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 God who is more total, and arranged nearer to the first, is
participated by a more total genus of beings. But the God who is more
partial, and more remote from the first, is participated by a more
partial genus of beings. And as being is to being, so is one divine
unity to another.
* * * * *
For if unities are as many in number as beings, and vice versa, and
one unity is participated by one being, it is evident that the order
of beings proceeds according to the order of the unities, being
assimilated to the order prior to beings. And more total beings indeed
are connascent with more total unities; but more partial beings
with more partial unities. For if this were not the case, again
similars would be conjoined with dissimilars, and there would not
be a distribution according to desert. These things, however, are
impossible. Since from thence the one, and an appropriate measure are
luminously imparted to all things, and from these proceed. Much more,
therefore, will there be an order of participation in these, similars
being suspended as much as possible from similars.
PROPOSITION CXXXVII.
Every unity in conjunction with _the one_ gives subsistence to the
being which participates of it.
* * * * *
For _the one_, as it gives subsistence to all things, so likewise it
is the cause of the participated unities, and of beings suspended
from these unities. But the unity belonging to every being produces
the peculiarity which shines forth in that particular being. And _the
one_ indeed is the cause of existence simply; but unity is the cause
of alliance, because it is connascent with _the one_. Hence, unity is
that which of itself defines the being which participates of it, and
essentially exhibits in itself a superessential peculiarity. For every
where, from that which is primary that which is secondary is that which
it is. If, therefore, there is a certain superessential peculiarity
of deity, this also belongs to the being which participates of it
superessentially.
PROPOSITION CXXXVIII.
Of all the deified natures which participate of the divine peculiarity,
the first and highest is _being itself_.
* * * * *