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
Those therefore are older, whose period is more total, and is
extended to a longer time. They may also be said to be _older and at
the same time younger with respect to themselves_, by becoming _hoary_
as it were above, through extending themselves to the whole power of
Time, but juvenile _beneath_, by enjoying Time more partially. But, _as
with respect to others_, they may be said to be _older and at the same
time younger_ according to a diminution of energy. For that which has
its circulation measured by a less period is younger than that whose
circulation is measured by a more extended period.
Again, among things co-ordinate, that which has the same participation
and the same measure of perfection with others may be said to be of
_the same age with itself and others_. But every divine soul, though
its own period is measured according to one Time, and that of the body
which is suspended from it according to another, yet it has an equal
restitution to the same condition; itself always according to its own
Time, and its body also according to its time. Hence, again, it is of
the same age with itself and its body, according to the analogous. By
thus interpreting what is now said of _the one_, we shall accord with
Plato in the Timæus, who there evinces that Time is the measure of
every transitive life, and who says that soul is the origin of a divine
and wise life through the whole of time. And we shall also accord with
his assertion in the Phædrus, that souls see true being through Time,
because they perceive temporally and not eternally.
Farther still, Plato here demonstrates that _the one_ is neither older
nor younger than itself, or another. For it was necessary to show
that _the one_ is beyond every divine soul, prior to other souls, in
the same manner as it is demonstrated to be prior to true beings, and
to be the cause of all things. Hence, since it is the cause of every
divine soul, so far as these derive their subsistence as well as all
beings from the divine unities, with great propriety is it necessary
to show that _the one_ is beyond the order of deified souls. For these
souls so far as they are intellectual have intellect for their cause;
so far as they are essences they originate from being; and so far as
they have the form of unity, they are derived from _the one_; receiving
their subsistence from this, so far as each is a multitude consisting
of certain unities, and of these as elements.