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The six books of Proclus, the Platonic successor, on the theology of Plato (vol. 1 of 2)

Chapter 1: THE SIX BOOKS OF PROCLUS
By Proclus
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The work expounds a Neoplatonic theology in which an ineffable first principle emanates successive orders—intellect, soul, natures, and the world—each sustaining series of beings that descend to corporeal existence. It argues that multiplicity issues from unity by similitude and that divine hypostases function as intermediate causes between the first principle and the sensible realm. Additional treatises consider providence, fate, and the subsistence of evil, while a concise set of doctrinal propositions lays out systematic metaphysical demonstrations. The style combines symbolic imagery with geometric and dialectical reasoning to reconcile mystical theism with rigorous philosophical argument.

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Title: The six books of Proclus, the Platonic successor, on the theology of Plato (vol. 1 of 2)

translated from the Greek, to which a seventh book is added, in order to supply the deficiency of another book on this subject, which was written by Proclus, but since lost, also, a translation from the Greek of Proclus' Elements of theology, to which are added a translation of the treatise of Proclus, On providence and fate, a translation of extracts from his treatise, entitled, Ten doubts concerning providence, and a translation of extracts from his treatise on the subsistence of evil; as preserved in the Bibliotheca Gr. of Fabricus

Author: Proclus

Translator: Thomas Taylor

Release date: December 3, 2025 [eBook #77393]

Language: English

Original publication: London: Law and Co, 1816

Credits: Karin Spence and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This book was produced from images made available by the HathiTrust Digital Library.)

*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE SIX BOOKS OF PROCLUS, THE PLATONIC SUCCESSOR, ON THE THEOLOGY OF PLATO (VOL. 1 OF 2) ***

THE
SIX BOOKS OF PROCLUS

The Platonic Successor,

ON THE THEOLOGY OF PLATO,

TRANSLATED FROM THE GREEK;

TO WHICH

A SEVENTH BOOK IS ADDED,

IN ORDER TO SUPPLY THE DEFICIENCY OF ANOTHER BOOK ON THIS SUBJECT,

WHICH WAS WRITTEN BY PROCLUS, BUT SINCE LOST.

ALSO, A TRANSLATION FROM THE GREEK OF

PROCLUS’ ELEMENTS OF THEOLOGY.

TO WHICH ARE ADDED

A TRANSLATION OF THE TREATISE OF PROCLUS,

On Providence and Fate;

A TRANSLATION OF EXTRACTS FROM HIS TREATISE, ENTITLED,

TEN DOUBTS CONCERNING PROVIDENCE;

AND

A TRANSLATION OF EXTRACTS FROM HIS TREATISE

ON THE SUBSISTENCE OF EVIL;

As preserved in the Bibliotheca Gr. of Fabricius.

BY THOMAS TAYLOR.

Αλλ’ εστιν, εστι, χαν τις εγγελᾳ λογῳ,
Zευς, χαι θεοι, βροτεια λευσσοντες παθη.
Euripides.
There are, there are, though laugh the scoffer may,
Jove and the Gods, who mortal ills survey.
ωσπερ εισι θεοι πολλοι, χαι χυριοι πολλοι.
Corinth. I. Cap. 8. v. 5.
As there be Gods many, and Lords many.

TWO VOLUMES.
VOL. I.

LONDON:

PRINTED FOR THE AUTHOR,
By A. J. Valpy, Tooke’s Court, Chancery Lane.
AND SOLD BY MESSRS. LAW AND Co.; LONGMAN AND Co.; BALDWIN AND Co.;
AND ALL OTHER BOOKSELLERS.

1816.