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
Every thing which subsists according to time, either subsists through
the whole of time, or has its hypostasis once in a part of time.
* * * * *
For if all progressions are through similitude, and things more
similar to first natures subsist in union with them prior to such
as are dissimilar, but it is impossible for things which are
generated in a part of time to be conjoined with eternal natures,
(for as being generated they differ from first natures which are
self-subsistent,[235] and as existing once, they are separated from
things which always exist, but the media between these, are such things
as are partly similar and partly dissimilar to them)--this being the
case, the medium between things which are once generated, and those
that exist always, is either that which is always becoming to be, or
that which is once, or that which is not truly being. It is however
impossible it should be that which once only truly is. And that which
is once not truly being is the same with that which is becoming to be.
Hence the medium is not that which is once only. It remains, therefore,
that the medium between both is that which is always becoming to be,
being conjoined indeed with the worse of the two through becoming to
be, but through subsisting always, imitating an eternal nature.
COROLLARY.
From these things it is evident that perpetuity is twofold, the one
indeed being eternal, but the other subsisting according to time.
The one also being a stable, but the other a flowing perpetuity. And
the one indeed having its being collected, and the whole subsisting
at once, but the other diffused, and expanded according to temporal
extension. And the one being a whole of itself, but the other
consisting of parts, each of which is separate, according to prior and
posterior.
PROPOSITION LVI.
Every thing which is produced by secondary natures, is produced in a
greater degree by prior and more causal natures, by whom such as are
secondary were also produced.
* * * * *
For if that which is secondary has the whole of its essence from that
which is prior to it, its power of producing is also derived from
thence; for powers in producing causes are essentially productive,
and give completion to the essence of them. But if it is allotted the
power of producing from a superior cause, it will possess from that
its existence as the cause of things of which it is the cause, and
its power of giving subsistence to other things will be measured from
thence. If, however, this be the case, the things proceeding from it
are effects through that which is prior to it. For the one perfects a
cause, and the other the thing caused. But if this be the case, the
thing caused is from thence rendered such as it is.