The Six Books of Proclus, the Platonic Successor, on the Theology of Plato/Contents
CONTENTS
OF
THE CHAPTERS OF BOOK I.
CONTENTS OF THE CHAPTERS OF BOOK II.
CONTENTS OF THE CHAPTERS OF BOOK III.
What the second intelligible triad is. A more accurate account of it, as subsisting from that which predominates, from that which is participated, and from that which characterizes the mixture.
What the third intelligible triad is; what that is which predominates, and is participated in this. And at the end, a discourse in common concerning the distinction of the three triads.
How the intelligible triads are delivered in the Timæus. And many admonitions concerning animal itself, [evincing] that it has the third order in intelligibles.
Many demonstrations that eternity subsists according to the middle order of intelligibles.
That the one in which eternity abides is the summit of intelligibles.
Concerning all the intelligible orders in common, according to the doctrine of Timæus. And a more accurate account of the peculiarities in the intelligible triads.
Concerning intelligible forms, and the doctrine unfolding the peculiarity of them. How likewise they are four, and from what causes they subsist.
That also from what is said in the Sophista, it is possible to discover the three intelligible orders; viz. in that part of the Sophista, in which it is shown what the one being, what whole, and what all are.
A summary account of what has been said concerning the intelligible triads. And admonitions from Plato that it is possible to divide them into father, power, and intellect.
How in the Phædrus it is said that every thing divine is beautiful, wise, and good. What triple elements of each of these Plato delivers. And how from these it is possible to accede to the union and separation of the intelligible triads.
How Parmenides delivers the multitude of Gods in the second hypothesis. And how we should discourse about each order of them, employing for this purpose the conclusions of that hypothesis.
What the first intelligible triad is according to Parmenides. Whence he begins, and how far he proceeds, teaching concerning it.
What the second intelligible triad is. How it is delivered by Parmenides in continuity with the triad prior to it. And how far he produces the discourse concerning it.
What the third intelligible triad is. And how Parmenides unfolds it through the third conclusion.
Concerning the three conclusions in common, through which the three orders of intelligibles, are characterized. And how through these it is possible to dissolve the most difficult of theological doubts.
A celebration of the intelligible Gods, unfolding at the same time the union of intelligibles themselves with the good, and their exempt hyparxis.
CONTENTS OF THE CHAPTERS OF BOOK IV.
What the peculiarity is of the intelligible and intellectual Gods. How they illuminate imparticipable life, and are in continuity with the intelligible Gods.
How the intelligible and intellectual Gods subsist from the intelligible Gods. And how they communicate with the intelligible Gods.
What the division is of the intelligible and intellectual Gods according to triads. And what the difference is of these triads with respect to the intelligible triads.
How Socrates in the Phædrus leads us to this order of Gods.
That it is not proper to understand the Heaven, and celestial circulation [celebrated in the Phædrus] as pertaining to sensibles; and many admonitions from the Platonic words themselves, that these are to be referred to the first order of Heaven.
That the supercelestial place is not simply intelligible; but demonstrations from what is delivered about it [in the Phædrus,] that it is allotted an intelligible order as in intellectuals.
That the subcelestial arch is the boundary of the intelligible and intellectual Gods, evinced from the peculiarities of it.
Why Plato characterizes this order of Gods from the middle which it contains, and delivers the names of the extremes according to the habitude to this middle.
That Plato delivers the same mode of ascent to the intelligible, as is delivered by initiators into the mysteries.
What the supercelestial place is. How it proceeds from the first intelligibles. How it is supreme in intellectuals, And how Plato demonstrates its prolific power.
How Plato has indicated the unknown peculiarity of the summit of intelligibles and intellectuals, and why he celebrates it at one and the same time affirmatively and negatively.
What the negations are of the supercelestial place. That they are produced from the divine orders. What kind of negations also designate the uncoloured, what, the unfigured, and what, the privation of contact.
What the things are which Plato affirms of the supercelestial place, and from what intelligible peculiarities, he ascribes to it affirmative signs.
What the three deities of the virtues, viz. science, temperance, and justice, are in the supercelestial place; what order they have with respect to each other; and what perfection each of them imparts to the Gods.
What the plain of Truth, and what the meadow are. What the unical form of intelligible nutriment is. What the twofold nutriment of the Gods is which is distributed from this intelligible food.
Many admonitions that the supercelestial place is triadic. And what the signs are of the three hypostases in it.
Who Adrastia is. What the sacred law of Adrastia is. That she ranks in the supercelestial place. And on what account she does so.
A summary account of what is said about the supercelestial place, unfolding the peculiarities of it.
Demonstrations that the connectedly-containing order is in the intelligible and intellectual Gods. And that it is necessary there should be three connective causes of wholes.
That according to Plato the celestial circulation is the same with the connective order.
How we may obtain auxiliaries from what is said by Plato of the triadic division in the connective deity. And why he especially venerates the union in this triad.
What the theology in the Cratylus is concerning Heaven. And how it is possible to collect from it by a reasoning process the middle of the intelligible and intellectual Gods.
That the most divinely-inspired of the interpreters have defined the subcelestial arch to be a certain peculiar order. And that our preceptor has unfolded it in the most perfect manner.
Many admonitions that the peculiarity of the subcelestial arch is perfective, from what Plato has delivered concerning it, and from the souls that are elevated to it.
What the triadic division is of the perfective order, which Plato has delivered in the subcelestial arch.
What the elevation is of souls separate from bodies to the intelligible and intellectual triads. What the most blessed telete is. What muesis, and epopteia are. What the entire, simple, and unmoved visions are. And what the end is of all this elevation.
How Plato unfolds in the Parmenides, from intelligibles the intelligible and intellectual orders. And what that which is common, and that which is different are, in the theology concerning these.
How the intelligible and intellectual number proceeds from intelligibles. And in what it differs from intelligible multitude.
How divine number adorns all beings. And what the powers in it are which are symbolically delivered from the division of number.
How Parmenides has delivered the feminine and generative peculiarity [of first number] in what he says concerning number.
How we may discover in what is delivered concerning number, the triadic division of the summit of intelligibles and intellectuals.
Whether it is proper to place number prior to animal itself, or in animal itself, or posterior to it.
Whence Parmenides begins to speak about number. How far he proceeds in what he says about it. And how he unfolds the different orders in it.
What the unknown is in divine numbers. What the generative is in them. And admonitions of these things from what is elsewhere said by Plato concerning numbers.
How Parmenides delivers the middle order of intelligibles and intellectuals through the one, whole, and finite. And what the peculiarities are of these.
Whence Parmenides begins to speak about this order. And how far he proceeds in what he says about it. How he likewise unfolds the three monads in it conformably to what is said in the Phædrus concerning them.
How Parmenides delivers the third order of intelligibles and intellectuals. And how he unfolds the perfective peculiarity, and triadic division of it.
An admonition what the union is of the three intelligible and intellectual triads, from the conclusions of Parmenides.
How many theological dogmas we may assume, through the order of the conclusions delivered by Parmenides in his discourse concerning the intelligible and intellectual Gods.
CONTENTS OF THE CHAPTERS OF BOOK V.
How the intellectual orders proceed from the intelligible and intellectual Gods. And according to what peculiarities they subsist.
What the division is of the intellectual Gods. And the progression according to hebdomads in this order of Gods.
Who the three intellectual fathers are according to Plato. What the three undefiled monads are. And who the seventh deity is, that is co-arranged with the two triads.
How from the writings of Plato, the procession of the intellectual Gods into seven hebdomads may be collected by a reasoning process.
Who the mighty Saturn is, according to the theology in the Cratylus. And how he is in a certain respect intelligible, and in a certain respect intellectual. In which also, the dogmas are discussed concerning the union of intellect with the intelligible, and its separation from it.
What the kingdom of Saturn is. In what manner it is delivered by Plato in the Politicus. And of what it is the cause to the world, to the mundane Gods, and to partial souls.
What the Saturnian life of souls is. And what peculiarities of this circulation the Elean Guest delivers.
How souls are said to be nourished by intelligibles. And what the difference is of the nutriment derived from different intelligible.
What the orders are which the mighty Saturn causes to preside over wholes. In which also, who the Saturnian intellect is that is delivered in the Gorgias is unfolded.
How this God [Saturn] is peculiarly called by theologists insenescible, or free from old age. And how Plato has delivered this peculiarity of him.
Who the vivific Goddess is. How she is the collector of the Saturnian and Jovian kingdoms. And what orders she possesses conjoined with both these kingdoms.
Who the third father in intellectuals is. How he proceeds from the causes prior to him. And that he is the demiurgus of the universe.
How according to another method it is requisite to discover the peculiarity of the demiurgus. And how the demiurgus is called in the Timæus effector and father. In which also, it is clearly shown, where the paternal, where the paternal and at the same time effective, where the effective and paternal, and where the effective only are, according to Plato. And in short, in what effector and father differ.
How following Timæus, according to a third method, we may purify our conceptions concerning the demiurgic monad.
A theological explanation of the speech of the demiurgus in the Timæus, distinctly evolving our conceptions about the demiurgic energy.
What the second speech of the demiurgus is to divisible souls. In what it differs from the former. And how in this all the measures of the life of souls are defined.
A summary of all that is said about the demiurgus, following the doctrine of Timæus.
Admonitions from what is said in the Cratylus, that Plato attributes fabrication to Jupiter.
Admonitions from what is said in the Cratylus of the fabrication of Jupiter. In which also the concord is demonstrated of the theology from names, with the arrangement of the demiurgus in the Timæus.
Admonitions of the fabrication of Jupiter from what is demonstrated in the Philebus. In which also it is shown, what the royal soul, and the royal intellect are.
Demonstrations of the same thing, from what is said in the Protagoras about the political science.
An argument shewing that Jupiter is the demiurgus and father of the universe[15] according to Plato, from what is said in the Politicus concerning the twofold circulation [of the universe.]
Admonitions of the same things, from what is said in the Laws concerning analogy, viz. that it is the judgment of Jupiter.
How Jupiter subsists according to cause in animal itself, and how animal itself is in Jupiter.
How Timæus attributes to the demiurgus the unknown and ineffable.
Why Timæus thinks fit to denominate animal itself, and is of opinion that it may be known, but leaves the demiurgus unknown and ineffable.
Concerning the Crater in the Timæus, a theology teaching what the genera are that are mingled in it, and how it is the cause of the essence of souls.
That the Crater in the Timæus is fontal. And admonitions from the writings of Plato, concerning the principle and fountain of souls.
That the three vivific fountains co-arranged with the demiurgus, may be assumed from what is said in the Timæus, viz. the fountain of souls, the fountain of the virtues, and the fountain of natures.
Admonitions concerning the undefiled Gods; that there are such Gods according to Plato; and what the peculiarity is of their essence.
More manifest demonstrations of the hypostasis of the undefiled Gods, according to Plato.
Admonitions through many arguments how it is proper to denominate the undefiled Gods according to Plato. In which also, the union of them, what their separation, and what their peculiarity are, is delivered.
How from what is mystically asserted by Plato, auxiliaries may be obtained, concerning the seventh monad of intellectuals.
How Plato delivers in the Parmenides the summit of the intellectual Gods.[16]
How Parmenides unfolds the middle order of the intellectual breadth, and through what signs.
How Parmenides defines the third order of intellectuals, and through what peculiarities.
CHAPTER XL.
A common theory of the intellectual hebdomad, from the conclusions of Parmenides.
CONTENTS OF THE CHAPTERS OF BOOK VI.
That the ruling order of Gods is in continuity with the intellectual Gods. And that the division into fountains and principles may be assumed from the writings of Plato, through the theory about souls.
How the ruling Gods proceed. And that the supermundane peculiarity pertains to these Gods also.
What the peculiarity is of the ruling Gods. That the assimilative is especially characteristic of them. And how the causes of assimilation are antecedently assumed in the demiurgus; and how, in the intelligible paradigm.
What the powers are of the assimilative Gods. What their energies. And how many goods are imparted by them to the world, and to all mundane natures.
What the divisions are of the assimilative Gods. And that the greatest part of the discourse about them is concerning the middle orders in them.
Many demonstrations, that both according to Plato and other theologists, there is one demiurgus prior to the three demiurgi.
That Jupiter is twofold; one indeed, being prior to the three sons of Saturn, [but the other being one of them.] And how the three proceed from Saturn, and the one Jupiter.
That according to Plato also, the demiurgic monad subsists prior to the three sons of Saturn. Demonstrations of this from what is said in the Politicus, and in the Laws.
More manifest admonitions of the same things from what is said in the Gorgias, and in the Cratylus.
Who the three demiurgi are, and what order they have with reference to each other. Likewise what their progressions are, and their divisions about the world.
What the vivific triad is among the ruling Gods. And whence we may derive auxiliaries from the writings of Plato concerning the union and division of this triad.
What the convertive triad of the ruling Gods is; and what the monad which it contains. In which also, the union of Apollo with the sun is demonstrated; and it is shown, how from what is said about Apollo we may be led to the theory of the solar orders.
What the undefiled order is of the ruling Gods. And how from the writings of Plato conceptions about it may be obtained.
How Parmenides forms his conclusions about the ruling Gods, in continuity with the demiurgic order. And that he characterizes the whole order of them, through similitude and dissimilitude.
What the supermundane and at the same time mundane genus of Gods is. And how through their own medium they preserve the continuity of the Gods that proceed from the demiurgus.
How the liberated Gods are characterized. And how from their liberated peculiarity they are exempt from the universe, and are co-arranged with the mundane Gods.
What the common powers, and what the common energies are of the liberated Gods, according with the essence that has been delivered of them.
Concerning the twelve leaders or rulers mentioned in the Phædrus, and that they have a liberated order.
Many and clearer demonstrations that the great leader Jupiter, and all the dodecad of leaders, are liberated.
An explanation from precedaneous causes whence the number of the dodecad in the liberated Gods is derived.
What the division of the liberated leaders is into two monads and one decad. And what the one division of them is.
The theology concerning each of the twelve Gods, unfolding the peculiarities of them from the subjects of their government.
Concerning the mother of the Fates mentioned in the Republic. Likewise concerning the triad of the Fates. What orders they have with reference to each other. What powers of them are delivered through divine symbols. What their energies are. And how Plato characterizes the liberated peculiarity.
How Parmenides forms his conclusions concerning the liberated Gods immediately after the assimilative Gods. And how he characterizes the order of them by touching and not touching.
CONTENTS OF THE CHAPTERS OF BOOK VII.
On the mundane Gods in general,—the source of their progression,—their orders, powers, and spheres.
On the division, and allotments of the mundane Gods.
That the mundane do not differ from the supermundane Gods in habitudes to bodies, &c.—That the providence of the Gods is not circumscribed by place.—That it pervades all things, and like the light of the sun, fills whatever is capable of receiving it.
After what manner the visible celestial orbs are Gods.—That a celestial body is eminently allied to the incorporeal essence of the Gods.—That the visible are connected with the intelligible Gods.—And that the perfectly incorporeal are united to the sensible Gods, through the essence of each being characterized by the one.
The nature of the mundane Gods unfolded from the speech of the Demiurgus to them, in the Timæus.—And what the whole conception of the speech is according to Proclus.
What the demiurgus effects in the multitude of mundane Gods by the first words of his speech.—That the words of the Demiurgus are addressed to the composite from soul and animal, viz. to the animal which is divine and partakes of a soul.—The meaning of the words, “Of whom I am the demiurgus and father,” &c.
The meaning of the words unfolded in the speech of the Demiurgus, “Every thing therefore which is bound is dissoluble, but to be willing to dissolve that which is beautifully harmonized and well composed, is the province of an ill nature.”
The following part of the speech of the Demiurgus to the mundane Gods unfolded.—The difference between the primarily and secondarily immortal, and the primarily and secondarily indissoluble.—And that the mundane Gods are neither primarily immortal, nor primarily indissoluble.
That part of the speech of the Demiurgus unfolded, in which he says to the mundane Gods, “Learn now therefore what I say to you indicating my desire.”
The developement of the remaining part of the speech of the Demiurgus.
Who the junior Gods are, and why they are thus called.
Farther important particulars respecting the fabrication of the mundane Gods, collected from the Timæus, and unfolded.
Continuation of the developement of these particulars.
The peculiarities of the celestial Gods separately discussed.—Why the one sphere of the fixed stars comprehends a multitude of stars, but each of the planetary spheres convolves only one star.—And that in each of the planetary spheres, there is a number of satellites, analogous to the choir of the fixed stars, subsisting with proper circulations of their own.
The nature of the Moon, Mercury, Venus, and the Sun unfolded.
Extract from the Oration of the Emperor Julian to the Sovereign Sun.
Extract from the MS. Scholia of Proclus on the Cratylus of Plato concerning Apollo, in which the principal powers of the God are unfolded.
The nature of the Muses unfolded from the above MS. Scholia.
The nature of Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn, unfolded.—The manner in which each of the seven planetary divinities becomes an animal, and is suspended from a more divine soul; and what kind of perfection it affords to the universe.
That all the celestial Gods are beneficent, and after a similar manner the causes of good.—And that the participation of them, and the mixture of material with immaterial influences, become the causes of the abundant difference in secondary natures.
The nature of Minerva unfolded from the Commentaries of Proclus on the Timæus.—The spear and shield with which this Goddess, in the statues of her, is represented as armed, explained from Iamblichus.—And observations respecting the mundane allotment of this Goddess.
The nature of the great mundane divinity, the earth, unfolded from Proclus on the Timaeus of Plato.
The manner in which the earth is said to be the most ancient, and the first of the Gods within the heavens, explained.
On the essence of the sublunary deities.—What Plato says of them in the Timæus unfolded.
Where the sublunary Gods are to be arranged.—And the meaning of the subsequent words of Plato developed.
The nature of the sublunary Gods more fully unfolded.—On the dæmoniacal order.—And that about each of the fabricators of generation, there is a co-ordinate angelical, dæmoniacal, and heroical multitude, which retains the appellation of its producing monad.
What Pythagoras says in the Sacred Discourse.—What the Orphic traditions are concerning Phanes, Night, Heaven, Saturn, Jupiter, and Bacchus.—That Plato begins the Theogony of the sublunary Gods from Heaven and Earth, and not from Phanes and Night.—And why he does so.
On the two principles Heaven and Earth.—What each of them is; and particularly concerning the power of Heaven.
The whole theory of Earth unfolded.—And also the theory of Ocean and Tethys.—That the causes of these are in the intellectual Gods, and likewise in the sensible universe.
The theory of Phorcys, Saturn, and Rhea, unfolded.
The nature of the sublunary Jupiter and Juno unfolded.—And why Plato comprehends in this ennead, viz. Heaven and Earth, Ocean and Tethys, Phorcys, Saturn, Rhea, Jupiter, and Juno, the Gods who are the fabricators of generation.
Why Plato denominates the sublunary deities, “such as become apparent when they please.”—General observations respecting the Gods that govern generation.
On the summit, or monad of all the mundane Gods, Bacchus.—And on the mundane soul which is the immediate participant of the Bacchic intellect.
How the mundane Gods are characterized in the Parmenides of Plato.
A developement of what Plato says in the Phædrus, about Boreas and Orithya, the Centaurs, Chimæras, Gorgons, Pegasuses, Typhons, Achelous, and the Nymphs.
The meaning of Plato unfolded, in what he says about Pan, Tartarus, Prometheus, Cadmus, and the Syrens.
A developement of Plato’s theological conceptions respecting Nature, Fate, and Fortune.
What Time, Day and Night, Month and Year are, so far as they are deities, according to the theology of Plato.
A discussion of the order of divine souls, who are deified by always participating of the Gods.
A developement of the nature of Love, from the MS. Commentary of Proclus on the First Alcibiades of Plato.
A continuation of the same subject.
The nature of dæmons more fully disclosed.—An extract from the MS. Commentary of Proclus on the First Alcibiades, on this subject.
On the dæmons who are allotted the superintendence of mankind.
On the dæmon of Socrates.—The peculiarity of this dæmon; and that it belonged to the Apolloniacal series.
Important information concerning dæmons from the MS. Scholia of Proclus on the Cratylus of Plato.—And also from the MS. Commentary of Olympiodorus on the Phædo of Plato.
The nature of those human souls that are of an heroic characteristic unfolded.—What Plato says of these souls in the Cratylus.—His meaning elucidated from the MS. Scholia of Proclus on that dialogue.
How the triple genera that are the perpetual attendants of the Gods, are indicated in the Parmenides of Plato.
An elucidation from Proclus of what Plato says in the Timæus, in celebration of the divinity of the World, so far as the whole of it is a God.
A further elucidation from Proclus of the same subject.
The meaning of the words of Plato, “And causing circle to revolve in a circle, he established heaven (i. e. the world) one, only, solitary nature,” unfolded from Proclus.
What Plato says in the Timæus about the name of the World,—with the elucidations of Proclus.
- ↑ The 12th chapter is not marked in the original; but it begins conformably to my translation.
- ↑ The 15th chapter also is not marked in the original; and is comprehended in my translation in the 14th chapter. Perhaps it should begin at the words, “If therefore the Gods produce all things,” in p. 49.
- ↑ Such is the title of this chapter in the Greek, which is obviously erroneous. For the proper title is, “What that is which unites us to the good; and that it is divine faith.” What is said indeed in the Greek to be the contents of this, belong to the preceding chapter.
- ↑ For εν φαιδρῳ it is necessary to read εν φαιδωνι.
- ↑ In the Greek το μονοειδες the uniform, but it should evidently be το νοητον, the intelligible.
- ↑ For υποθεσεως I read υποστασεως.
- ↑ These four chapters are comprehended in one in my translation, as they are not marked in the Greek; and I had not divided them, when this work was sent to the press, as I have done the chapters of the other books, in which there is a similar defect in the original.
- ↑ The fifth and sixth chapters are comprehended in the second chapter in my translation.
- ↑ For ουσιαι, it is necessary to read αιτιαι.
- ↑ The seventh and eighth chapters form the third in my translation.
- ↑ For εν, it is necessary to read ον.
- ↑ And the ninth and tenth are the fourth and fifth chapters in my translation.
- ↑ This is the sixth chapter in my translation.
- ↑ It appears from this account of the contents of the twelfth chapter, that a considerable part of it is wanting in the original; because nothing is said in it about the manner in which the second triad proceeds analogous to the first.
- ↑ For πλατωνος, it is necessary to read παντος.
- ↑ The contents of chapter thirty-seven in the original erroneously form the conclusion of the contents of chapter thirty-six. And instead of ως την ακροτητα, it is therefore necessary to read πῳς την ακροτητα. Hence what are marked as κεφ. λζ, κεφ. λκ, and κεφ. λθ, should be marked κεφ. λη, κεφ. λθ, and κεφ. μ᾽. It will be found also that chapter forty is wanting.