Proclus : An Introduction

Proclus of Lycia (412-485) was one of the greatest philosophers of antiquity, producing the most systematic version of late Neoplatonic thought. He exercised enormous influence on Byzantine, medieval, Renaissance and German Classical philosophy, ranking among the top five of ancient philosophers in terms of the number of preserved works. Despite this he is rarely studied now, the enormous intricacy of his system making the reading of his treatises difficult for beginners. This book provides the first comprehensive introduction to all the basic areas of Proclus' thought. It carefully guides the reader through his metaphysics, theology, epistemology and theory of evil, as well as his sophisticated philosophy of religion. It also sets Proclus in the historical, social and religious context of late antiquity, offering a synthetic account that will appeal to historians and students of ancient religion. Cover PROCLUS Title Copyright Contents Figures Acknowledgements Editions and abbreviations of ancient works EDITIONS AND TRANSLATIONS OF PROCLUS’ TEXTS* EDITIONS OF WORKS BY OTHER ANCIENT PHILOSOPHERS ABBREVIATIONS OF WORKS WITH STANDARD PAGINATION Note on translations used Introduction CHAPTER 1: Historical background 1.1 NEOPLATONISM AND THE PLATONIC TRADITION 1.2 PLOTINUS VERSUS LATE NEOPLATONISM 1.2.1 Penchant for subtle classifications 1.2.2 Impenetrable boundaries between levels of reality 1.2.3 Turn towards religion 1.3 PROCLUS AND ATHENIAN NEOPLATONISM 1.3.1 From Iamblichus to Proclus 1.3.2 Proclus’ writings 1.3.3 The final days of Neoplatonism CHAPTER 2: Proclus’ metaphysics 2.1 THE ONE AND THE GOOD AS THE BEGINNING AND END OF ALL THINGS 2.1.1 Positive presence of the One and the Good in all things 2.1.2 Negative theology 2.2 THE CYCLE OF PROCESSION AND REVERSION 2.2.1 Why does the One create lower levels? 2.2.2 Procession and reversion 2.2.3 Self-constituted levels 2.2.4 Limit and the Unlimited 2.3 GRADES OF CAUSALITY 2.3.1 All things are in all things 2.3.2 Being – Life – Intellect 2.4 LEVELS OF PARTICIPATION 2.4.1 Participating – participated – unparticipated 2.4.2 Participation and the relation between levels of reality 2.4.3 Degrees of participation CHAPTER 3: Proclus’ polytheistic theology 3.1 HENADS 3.2 LOWER GODS AND THE HIERARCHY OF HENADS 3.3 VERTICAL CHAINS CHAPTER 4: Epistemology 4.1 THE SOUL AS A DISCURSIVE IMAGE OF INTELLECT 4.2 PROJECTION AND RECOLLECTION 4.3 OPINION AS UNREFLECTED PROJECTION 4.4 MATHEMATICS AND DIALECTIC 4.5 BEYOND DISCURSIVITY CHAPTER 5: Ways of unification 5.1 THE ONE IN SOUL 5.2 THEURGY 5.2.1 External theurgy 5.2.2 Levels of internal theurgy CHAPTER 6: Inspired poetry and its symbols 6.1 IN DEFENCE OF MYTHICAL OBSCENITY 6.2 PHILOSOPHY AS SYMBOLIC EXEGESIS CHAPTER 7: Evil and theodicy 7.1 PROCLUS’ CRITICISM OF PLOTINUS 7.2 EVIL AS FALLING SHORT OF ONE’S NATURE 7.3 EVIL AS A DISTORTION OF VERTICAL HIERARCHY 7.4 EVIL IN SOULS AND IN BODIES 7.5 EVIL AS PERVERSION OF THE GOOD 7.6 WHY DOES EVIL EXIST? 7.7 EVIL AND PROVIDENCE: PROCLUS’ THEODICY CHAPTER 8: Ethics 8.1 VIRTUES OF THE NEOPLATONIC SAGE 8.2 ACTION AND CONTEMPLATION CHAPTER 9: Worldview 9.1 PHILOSOPHY AND RELIGION IN LATE ANTIQUITY 9.2 THE INWARD TURN: PLOTINUS AND THE ‘FRIENDS OF GOD’ 9.3 IAMBLICHEAN RE-EXTERNALIZATION CHAPTER 10: Epilogue: Proclus’ legacy Bibliography Index of passages quoted General index Пустая страница The first comprehensive introduction to the philosophical and religious thought of Proclus the Neoplatonist, one of the most complex and influential thinkers of antiquity. In addition to covering all the basic areas of his thought, the book sets Proclus in the historical, social and religious context of late antiquity. An introduction to the philosophical and religious thought of Proclus the Neoplatonist, one of the most complex thinkers of antiquity