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
one circle[98]: and by the medium of another, contemplates the circle
resident in the depths of cogitation: but by another, different from
the preceding, fabricates the fair variety of its demonstrations.
For since cogitation is endued with reasons, but cannot behold them
contractedly, separated from material figure; it distributes and
removes them, and draws them forth seated in the shadowy bosom of the
phantasy, and placed in the vestibules of primary forms; revolving
in it, or together with it, the knowledge of these: loving, indeed,
a separation from sensibles, but finding imaginative matter proper
for the reception of its universal forms. Hence, its intellection
does not subsist without the phantasy. And the compositions and
divisions of figures are imaginative; and their knowledge is the way
which leads us to that essence pursued by cogitation: but cogitation
itself, does not yet arrive at this stable essence, while it looks
abroad to externals, contemplates its internal forms according to
these, uses the impressions of reasons, and is moved from itself to
external and material forms. But if it should ever be able to return
to itself, when it has contracted intervals and impressions, and
beholds multitude without impression, and subsisting uniformly; then
it will excellently perceive geometrical reasons, void of division and
interval, essential and vital, of which there is a copious variety.
And this energy will be the best end of the geometric study; and truly
the employment of a Mercurial gift, bringing it back as from a certain
Calypso, and her detaining charms, to a more intellectual knowledge;
and freeing it from those _forming_ apprehensions with which the
mirror of the phantasy is replete. Indeed, it is requisite that a
true geometrician should be employed in this meditation, and should
establish, as his proper end, the excitation and transition from the
phantasy to cogitation alone; and that he should accomplish this by
separating himself from intervals, and the passive intellect to that
energy which cogitation contains. For by this means he will perceive
all things without an interval, the circle and diameter without a part,
the polygons in the circle, all in all, and yet every one separate and
apart. Since, on this account, we exhibit also in the phantasy, both
circles inscribed in polygons, and polygons in circles; imitating the
alternate exhibition of reasons destitute of parts. Hence, therefore,
we describe the constitutions, the origin, divisions, positions, and
applications of figures: because we use the phantasy, and distances
of this kind proceeding from its material nature; since form itself
is immoveable, without generation, indivisible, and free from every
subject. But whatever form contains occultly, and in an indistant
manner, is produced into the phantasy subsisting with intervals,
divisibly and expanded. And that which, indeed, produces the forms of
geometric speculation, is cogitation: but that from which they are
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