The six books of Proclus, the Platonic successor, on the theology of Plato (vol. 1 of 2) : $b translated from the Greek, to which a seventh book is added, in order to supply the deficiency of another book on this subject, which was written by Proclus, but since lost, also, a translation from the Greek of Proclus' Elements of theology, to which are added a translation of the treatise of Proclus, On providence and fate, a translation of extracts from his treatise, entitled, Ten doubts concerning
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See, therefore, the third argument after these, leading us to the same
conclusion with the former arguments. For it is necessary that the
cause of all beings should be that of which all beings participate, to
which they refer the subsistence of themselves, and which separates
itself from nothing that in any respect whatever is said to have
an existence. For this alone is the object of desire to beings,
which primarily, or in some other way, is itself the cause of their
subsistence. And it is necessary that every thing which is produced
with reference to, and on account of it, should have a certain habitude
with relation to it, and through this also, a similitude to it. For
every habitude of one thing towards another, is predicated in a twofold
respect, either from both participating of one thing, which affords
to the participants a communion with each other; or from one of them
participating of the other; of which, indeed, the one as being more
excellent, imparts something to that which is subordinate to itself;
but the other, as being inferior, is assimilated to the more excellent
nature, so far as it participates of it. Hence it is necessary, if all
sensible natures possess a habitude to that which is first, aspire
after, and subsist about it, either that there should be a certain
third thing the cause of the habitude, or that the principle should
impart to the natures posterior to itself, a tendency to itself, and
that desire, through which every thing is preserved, and exists.
Nothing else, however, is more excellent than that which is first.
Hence, the habitude of beings, their existence, and their tendency
to the first, are derived from thence. And all things participate of
the principle of themselves, if it is necessary that this which is
participated, should from thence become apparent in all beings, since
it is the principle of all things, and deserts no being whatever.
What, therefore, will this nature be, which is every where, and in all
beings? Is it life and motion? But there are indeed many things which
are deprived of these. Is, therefore, permanency every where, and in
all things? But neither is this true. For motion, so far as it is
motion, will not participate of permanency. Is much-honoured intellect,
therefore, so far as it is intellect, participated by all beings?
But this also is impossible. For all beings would have intellectual
perception, and no being would be deprived of intellect.