Proclus
Reality is an ordered ladder of levels descending from the One, and God himself can only be described by saying what he is not.
Placement
Systematizer of Neoplatonism; through Pseudo-Dionysius he shaped medieval mysticism.
Key ideas
- Hierarchical cosmos
- Negative theology
Influence
Influenced by 4
Plato
influenced by ✓
Proclus systematised Plato as theology in the Platonic Theology and, as head of the Athenian school, commented on the Timaeus, Republic, Parmenides and First Alcibiades. Proclus, Platonic Theology; In Timaeum; In Rempublicam; In Parmenidem; In Alcibiadem; SEP “Proclus”
Evidence: also in Wikidata · Wikidata
Plato › 428–348 BCE
Aristotle
influenced by ✓
In the Neoplatonic curriculum Proclus first read Aristotle’s logic, ethics, politics, physics and theology with Syrianus as a preparation for Plato, as his biographer Marinus reports. Marinus, Proclus or On Happiness; SEP “Proclus”
Evidence: also in Wikidata · Wikidata
Aristotle › 384–322 BCE
Plotinus
influenced by ✓
Proclus systematised the hierarchy of One, Intellect and Soul he inherited from Plotinus, adding henads and triadic procession, and rejected Plotinus’ undescended soul (Elements of Theology 211). Proclus, Elements of Theology, prop. 211; SEP “Proclus”
Plotinus › 204–270
Porphyry
influenced by
Proclus’ commentary on the Timaeus cites and discusses Porphyry’s interpretations throughout, often against him, and so is a main source for Porphyry’s lost commentary. Proclus, In Platonis Timaeum commentaria; Porphyry, In Timaeum (fragments, ed. A. R. Sodano, 1964); SEP “Porphyry”
Evidence: AI draft
Porphyry › c. 234–305
Influenced 5
Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite
influenced
Dionysius joined Proclus’ Neoplatonism to Christian faith; his treatment of evil in Divine Names IV follows Proclus’ On the Existence of Evils, as Koch and Stiglmayr showed (1895). H. Koch, Philologus 54 (1895); J. Stiglmayr, Historisches Jahrbuch 16 (1895); SEP “Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite”
Evidence: AI draft
Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite › c. 480–530
al-Kindi
influenced
Al-Kindi’s circle produced Arabic adaptations of Proclus’ Elements of Theology, among them the source of the Book of Causes, and his account of the One reflects them. C. D’Ancona, Recherches sur le Liber de causis (1995); P. Adamson, Al-Kindi (2007)
Evidence: also in InPhO · InPhO
al-Kindi › c. 801–873
Meister Eckhart
influenced
Eckhart knew Proclus’ metaphysics chiefly through the Liber de causis, an Arabic reworking of the Elements of Theology, citing it on the first cause’s immanence, transcendence and ineffability. Liber de causis; M. Raschietti, ‘Meister Eckhart leitor do Liber de causis’, Kriterion 60 (2019); SEP “Meister Eckhart”
Evidence: AI draft
Meister Eckhart › c. 1260–1328
George Gemistos Plethon
influenced
Plethon’s order of gods in the Laws, with Zeus as first principle from whom eternal gods as Forms proceed, follows Neoplatonic tradition, especially Proclus. G. Gemistos Plethon, Nomoi; Th. Nikolaou, ‘Georgios Gemistos Plethon und Proklos’ (1982); V. Hladký, The Philosophy of Gemistos Plethon (2014)
Evidence: AI draft
George Gemistos Plethon › c. 1355–1452
Nicholas of Cusa
influenced
Cusanus annotated Proclus’ Elements of Theology and commentary on the Parmenides and had his Platonic Theology translated by Pietro Balbi; he cites Proclus in De non aliud (1462). Nicholas of Cusa, De non aliud (1462); Proclus, Theologia Platonica, Latin tr. P. Balbi; SEP “Nicholas of Cusa”
Evidence: AI draft
Nicholas of Cusa › 1401–1464
Criticism
Criticized by 1
John Philoponus
criticised by
Philoponus answered Proclus’ eighteen arguments for the eternity of the world point by point in On the Eternity of the World against Proclus (529). Philoponus, De aeternitate mundi contra Proclum (529), ed. H. Rabe, 1899; SEP “John Philoponus”
Evidence: AI draft
John Philoponus › c. 490–570
Works
- c. 470Elements of Theology
211 propositions that unfold the Neoplatonic cosmos axiomatically.
Position
Proclus was the great systematiser of late Neoplatonism. In his Elements of Theology he derives the whole of reality from the One in 211 propositions, in a deductive form modelled on Euclid. Each level unfolds in a triad of remaining, procession and return: every effect remains in its cause, proceeds from it and turns back to it. Between the One and the world he places a richly articulated hierarchy of henads, intellects and souls. He also wrote extensive commentaries on Plato and Euclid. Through the Christian writer known as Pseudo-Dionysius and the Arabic Book of Causes, his thought deeply influenced medieval theology.
Life & context
Proclus was born in Constantinople, grew up in Lycia and studied in Alexandria before moving to Athens, where he became head of the Platonic school and led it for nearly fifty years. Deeply religious, he practised the old pagan rites in an increasingly Christian empire. His life was described by his pupil and successor Marinus.
Further main works
- Commentary on Plato’s Timaeus (c. 440 CE)
- Platonic Theology (c. 470 CE)
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