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
But, beginning still higher, let us contemplate the whole of geometry,
from whence it originated, and how far it proceeds in its energies:
for thus we shall properly perceive the ornament which it contains.
Indeed, it is necessary to understand that it is extended through the
universality of things: that it accommodates its animadversions[105]
to all beings; and contains in itself the forms of all things: that,
according to its supreme part, and which is endued with the highest
power of intelligence, it surveys true beings; and teaches by images
the properties of divine ornaments, and the powers of intellectual
forms: for it contains the reasons of these also in its peculiar
contemplations. And it exhibits what figures are convenient to the
god, to primary essences, and to the natures of souls. But, according
to its middle cognitions, it evolves cogitative reasons; explains and
beholds the variety which they contain; exhibits their existence, and
inherent passions; as also, their communities and diversities. From
which, indeed, it comprehends, in terminated bounds, the imaginative
formations of figures, and reduces them to the essential substance
of reasons. But, according to the third propagations of cogitative
intelligence, it considers nature, and delivers the manner in which
the forms of sensible elements, and the powers which they contain, are
previously received according to cause, in the reasons themselves. For
it possesses, indeed, the images of universal intelligible genera;
but the exemplars of such as are sensible: and completes its own
essence, according to such things as are subject to cogitation. And
through these, as through proper mediums, it ascends and descends to
those universals which truly are, and to sensible forms which are in a
state of perpetual formation. But always geometrically philosophising
concerning the things which are, it comprehends in all the proportions
of virtues, the images of intellectual, animal, and natural concerns.
And it delivers, in an orderly manner, all the ornaments of republics:
and exhibits in itself their various mutations. Such then are its
energies arising from a certain immaterial power of cognition: but
when it touches upon matter, it produces from itself a multitude of
sciences; such as geodæsia, mechanics, and perspective: by which it
procures the greatest benefit to the life of mortals. For it constructs
by these sciences, war-instruments, and the bulwarks of cities; and
makes known the circuits of mountains, and the situations of places.
Lastly, it instructs us in measures: at one time of the diversified
ways of the earth; and at another, of the restless paths of the deep.
Add too, that it constructs balances and scales, by which it renders
to cities a sure equality according to the invariable standard of
number. Likewise, it clearly expresses, by images, the order of the
whole orb of the earth; and by these, manifests many things incredible
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