The philosophical and mathematical commentaries of Proclus on the first book of Euclid's elements (Vol. 1 of 2) : $b To which are added, A history of the restoration of Platonic theology, by the latter Platonists: And a translation from the Greek of Proclus's Theological elementsProclus
Philosophy
The philosophical and mathematical commentaries of Proclus on the first book of Euclid's elements (Vol. 1 of 2) : $b To which are added, A history of the restoration of Platonic theology, by the latter Platonists: And a translation from the Greek of Proclus's Theological elements
Proclus
Euclid. Elements; Platonists
Again, some think (among whom is Geminus) that the mathematical science
is to be divided in a different manner from the preceding. And they
consider that one of its parts is conversant with intelligibles only,
but the other with sensibles, upon which it borders; denominating as
intelligibles whatever inspections the soul rouses into energy by
herself, when separating herself from material forms. And of that which
is conversant with intelligibles they establish two, by far the first
and most principal parts, arithmetic and geometry: but of that which
unfolds its office and employment in sensibles, they appoint six parts,
mechanics, astrology, optics, geodæsia, canonics, and logistics, or
the art of reckoning. But they do not think that the military art, or
tactics, should be called any one part of mathematics, according to
the opinion of some[88]; but they consider it as using at one time
the art of reckoning, as in the numbering of legions; but at another
time geodæsia, as in dividing and measuring the spaces filled by a
field of camps. As, say they, neither the art of writing, nor the
art of healing, are any part of mathematics, though frequently both
the historian and physician use mathematical theorems. This is the
case with historians indeed, when relating the situation of climates,
or collecting the magnitudes and dimensions of cities, or their
compass and circuit: but with physicians, when elucidating by ways of
this kind, many things in their art. For Hippocrates himself shews
the utility derived to medicine from astrology, and almost all who
speak of opportune times and places. By the same reason he also, who
accommodates his work to tactics, uses indeed mathematical theorems,
yet is not on this account a mathematician, although he is sometimes
willing that a numerous camp should exhibit a very small multitude,
and forms his army according to a circular figure; but sometimes in a
quadrangular, quinquangular, or some other multangular figure, when
he desires it to appear numerous. But since these are the species of
the whole mathematical science, geometry is again divided into the
contemplation of planes, and the dimension of solids, which is called
stereometry. For there is not any peculiar treatise about points and
lines, because no figure can be produced from these without planes
or solids. For geometry treats of nothing else in every one of its
parts, than that it may constitute either planes or solids: or that
when constituted, it may compare and divide them among themselves.
In like manner, arithmetic is distributed into the contemplation of
linear, plane, and solid numbers. For it considers the species of
numbers separate from sensible connections, proceeding from unity,
and the origin of plane numbers; I mean of the similar, dissimilar,
and solid, even to the third increase. But geodæsia, and the art
of reckoning, are divided similarly to arithmetic and geometry, as
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