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
For if every thing which is sufficient to itself, either according to
essence, or according to energy, is more excellent than that which is
suspended from another cause; but that which produces itself, since it
produces the being of itself, is sufficient to itself with respect to
essence; but that which is alone produced by another is not sufficient
to itself; and the self-sufficient is more allied to _the good_; but
things more allied and similar to their causes, subsist from cause
prior to such as are dissimilar;--this being the case, things which
are produced by themselves, and are self-subsistent, are more ancient
than those which proceed into existence from another cause alone. For
either there will be nothing self-subsistent, or _the good_ is a thing
of this kind, or the first things that subsist from _the good_. But
if there is nothing self-subsistent, there will not in reality be in
any thing self-sufficiency. Nor will it be in _the good_, since that
being _the one_ is better than self-sufficiency. It is also _the good
itself_, and not that which possesses _the good_. But if _the good_ was
self-subsistent, in consequence of itself producing itself, it will
not be _the one_. For that which proceeds from _the one_ is not _the
one_. And it would proceed from itself, if it was self-subsistent; so
that _the one_, would at the same time be one and not one. Hence, it is
necessary that the self-subsistent should be posterior to the first.
And it is evident that it will be prior to things which alone proceed
from another cause. For it has a more principal subsistence than these,
and is more allied to _the good_, as has been demonstrated.
PROPOSITION XLI.
Every thing which is in another is alone produced by another; but every
thing which is in itself is self-subsistent.
* * * * *
For that which is in another thing and is indigent of a subject, can
never be generative of itself. For that which is naturally adapted to
generate itself, does not require another seat, because it is contained
by itself, and is preserved in itself apart from a subject. But that
which abides, and is able to be established in itself, is productive
of itself, itself proceeding into itself, and being connective of
itself. And thus it is in itself, as the thing caused in its cause.
For it is not in itself, as in place, or as in a subject. For place is
different from that which is in place, and that which is in a subject
is different from the subject. But this which is in itself is the same
with that in which it is inherent; for it is self-subsistent. And it
is in such a manner in itself, as that which is from a cause is in the
cause.
PROPOSITION XLII.
Every thing self-subsistent is convertive to itself.
* * * * *