 Iamblichus’ philosophical stance is connected to some views which separate him from Plotinus and Porphyry and lay the ground for later Neoplatonism, in particular that of Proclus and of the so-called Athenian school of the fifth and sixth century AD. These views concern: the status of embodied souls (according to Iamblichus there is no superior part of our soul which resides in intelligible being); the role of religious acts revealed by the gods to enable the soul’s ascension to the intelligible realm (as already noted, for Iamblichus, philosophical and intellectual contemplation alone are not sufficient and theurgy is necessary); a harmonising account of the various theological traditions and the privileged role assigned to Pythagoras and to the Chaldaean Oracles; an account of principles and of the metaphysical hierarchy which, while based on Plotinus’ and Porphyry’s doctrines, includes more degrees and intermediate levels; and, finally, a tendency towards scholasticism and the systematization of exegetical methods.