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
sections, positions and applications, additions and ablations, exist:
but every thing resident in cogitation, subsists without origin and
mutation. There are, therefore, both geometrical problems and theorems.
But, because contemplation abounds in geometry, as production in
mechanics, all problems participate of contemplation; but every thing
contemplative is not problematical. For demonstrations are entirely
the work of contemplation; but every thing in geometry posterior to
the principles, is assumed by demonstration. Hence, a theorem is more
common: but all theorems do not require problems; for there are some
which possess from themselves the demonstration of the thing sought.
But others, distinguishing a theorem from a problem, say, that indeed
every problem receives whatever is predicated of its matter, together
with its own opposite: but that every theorem receives, indeed, its
symptom predicate, but not its opposite. But I call the matter of
these, that genus which is the subject of enquiry; as for instance,
a triangle, quadrangle, or a circle: but the symptom predicate, that
which is denominated an essential accident, as equality, or section,
or position, or some other affection of this kind. When, therefore,
any one proposes to inscribe an equilateral triangle in a circle, he
proposes a problem: for it is possible to inscribe one that is not
equilateral. But when any one asserts that the angles at the base
of an isosceles triangle are equal, we must affirm that he proposes
a theorem; for it is not possible that the angles at the base of an
isosceles triangle should be unequal to each other. On which account,
if any one forming problematically, should say that he wishes to
inscribe a right angle in a semi-circle, he must be considered as
ignorant of geometry; since every angle in a semi-circle is necessarily
a right one. Hence, propositions which have an universal symptom,
attending the whole matter, must be called theorems; but those in
which the symptom is not universal, and does not attend its subject,
must be considered as problems. As to bisect a given terminated right
line, or to cut it into equal parts: for it is possible to cut it
into unequal parts. To bisect every rectilinear angle, or divide it
into equal parts; for a division may be given into unequal parts. On
a given right line to describe a quadrangle; for a figure that is not
quadrangular may be described. And, in short, all of this kind belong
to the problematical order. But the followers of Zenodotus, who was
familiar with the doctrine of Oenopides, but the disciple of Andron,
distinguish a theorem from a problem, so far as a theorem enquires what
the symptom is which is predicated of the matter it contains; but a
problem enquires what that is, the existence of which is granted. From
whence the followers of Possidonius define a theorem a proposition,
by which it is enquired whether a thing exists or not; but a problem,
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