Includes bibliographical references and index.

Front Matter -- Copyright Page -- Preface -- Abbreviations -- Augustine and Plotinus on Imaging the Divine -- Augustine’s Appraisal of Plotinus’ Philosophy -- Plotinus: Images, the Soul and the Ascent -- Augustine: the Image of God in His Genesis Commentaries -- The Image of the Trinity in De Trinitate -- Prologue to Chapters 6–9 on Augustine and Plotinus -- Augustine and Plotinus on the Godhead -- Augustine and Plotinus on the Image-Intellect and Epistemology -- Augustine and Plotinus on Love -- Augustine and Plotinus on the Ascent -- Plotinus in Augustine’s Doctrine of the Image of God -- Augustine’s Christian Platonism -- Epilogue -- Back Matter -- Primary Sources -- Bibliography.

In Augustine and Plotinus: the Human Mind as Image of the Divine Laela Zwollo provides an inside view of two of the most influential thinkers of late antiquity: the Christian Augustine and the Neo-Platonist Plotinus. By exploring the finer points and paradoxes of their doctrines of the image of God (the human soul/intellect), the illustrious church father’s complex interaction with his most important non-biblical source comes into focus. In order to fathom Augustine, we should first grasp the beauty in Plotinus’ philosophy and its attractiveness to Christians. This monograph will contribute to a better understanding of the formative years of Christianity as well as later ancient philosophy. It can serve as a handbook for becoming acquainted with the two thinkers, as well as for delving into the profundity of their thought.