The six books of Proclus, the Platonic successor, on the theology of Plato (vol. 2 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 p — Plato — John Shaqi
The six books of Proclus, the Platonic successor, on the theology of Plato (vol. 2 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 p
Plato · en
The orderly progression, however, of multitude becomes at length
apparent. And thus the three ruling fathers of wholes, separate their
productions, by first, middle, and last boundaries of fabrication,
and are all of them total, but they are fabricators and fathers of
parts totally; through being in continuity indeed with the monad,
not changing the form of production; but on account of diminished
progression, not possessing an energy impartibly extended to all
things. And the one demiurgus indeed, being arranged prior to the
triad, comprehends in himself uniformly the productions of all [the
demiurgi]. But these three fathers multiply the unical dominion and
power of the first demiurgus, divide his impartible production, and
lead forth into secondary natures the stable energy of the father. And
the exempt monad indeed comprehends in itself the all-perfect measure
of the triad, according to supreme union; but the triad unfolds into
light from itself the undivided power of the monad.
Plato, therefore, celebrates indeed, in other dialogues, these three
fabricators and fathers, but particularly in the Gorgias, adducing as
a witness of the theory concerning them, divinely-inspired poetry,
he refers the whole progression of them to Saturn the father of the
intellectual Gods, and from thence gives to them their first production
into light. He exempts, however, the demiurgic intellect from the
triadic division of them, co-arranges it with the father, and says,
that they have an intellectual dominion secondary to him. He likewise
calls them the sons of Saturn, but indicates that they are allotted
their progression from Jupiter. For there is a twofold Jupiter both
according to Plato, and all the theology, as I may say, of the Greeks;
the one indeed convolving the end of the intellectual triad to the
beginning; but the other being allotted the summit of the ruling triad.
And the one being the demiurgus of wholes totally; but the other being
allotted the first parts of divided fabrication. And the one indeed
being arranged prior to the three fathers; but the other being the
first of the three, and proximate to the remaining fathers. Whence,
also, I think that many who discuss these particulars are ignorant
that Jupiter the demiurgus of the universe, is not the first of the
three fathers, and that Saturn the leader and ruler of the intellectual
kings, is not the same with the demiurgic intellect. For of those who
immediately suspend the triad of the ruling fathers from the paternal
kingdom of Saturn, some indeed refer the whole fabrication of things
to Saturn himself; but others ascribe to the summit of the triad the
generation of wholes. Is not, however, each of these impossible? For
the one abiding in himself, and converting to himself every thing which
has proceeded, is exempt from demiurgic production; but the other
being divided oppositely to the total[10] fathers, will not be the
impartible fabricator of wholes.