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 all knowledge which subsists through reasoning and language,
pertains to beings, and in beings possesses the apprehension of
truth. For it comes into contact with conceptions, and subsists in
intellections. But the Gods are beyond all beings. Neither, therefore,
is that which is divine doxastic, or the object of opinion, nor is it
dianoëtic, nor intelligible. For every being is either sensible, and
on this account doxastic, or truly existing being, and on this account
intelligible, or it is between these, subsisting as _being_ and
at the same time _generation_, and on this account is dianoëtic.
If, therefore, the Gods are superessential, and subsist prior to
beings, there is neither any opinion of them, nor science and dianoia,
nor intellection. But the nature of their peculiarities is known by
the beings that are suspended from them. And this by a necessary
consequence. For the differences of participants are co-divided
conformably to the peculiarities of the participated natures. And
neither does every thing participate of every thing; for there is no
co-ordination of things perfectly dissimilar. Nor does any casual thing
participate of that which is casual. But that which is kindred is
conjoined to that which is kindred, and proceeds from that to which it
is allied.
PROPOSITION CXXIV.
Every God knows partible natures impartibly, temporal natures, without
time, things which are not necessary, necessarily, mutable natures,
immutably; and in short, all things in a manner more excellent than the
order of the things known.
* * * * *
For if every thing which is with the Gods, is with them according
to their peculiarity, it is evident that the knowledge in the Gods
of things inferior, will not subsist according to the nature of the
inferior things, but according to the exempt transcendency of the
Gods. Hence, their knowledge of multiplied and passive natures, will
be uniform and impassive. If, therefore, the object of knowledge is
partible, divine knowledge will be impartible. If the objects that are
known are mutable, the knowledge of the Gods will be immutable; if they
are contingent, they will be known by the Gods necessarily; and if they
are indefinite, definitely. For that which is divine, does not receive
knowledge from subordinate beings, in order that thus the knowledge may
be such as is the nature of the thing known. But subordinate beings
become indefinite about the definite nature of the Gods, are changed
about their immutability, receive passively that which is impassive
in them, and temporally that which in them is without time. For it is
possible for subordinate to be surpassed by more excellent natures; but
it is not lawful for the Gods to receive any thing from beings inferior
to themselves.
PROPOSITION CXXV.