Proclus : neo-platonic philosophy and science

179 Pages·1996·152.215 MB·English

by  Lucas Siorvanes

PROCLUS
Neo-Platonic Philosophy and Science
Lucas Siorvanes
EDINBURGH UNIVERSITY PRESS
To Lisa, Smaragda, Rowena and George Siorvanes
Knowledge without reality and life is non-existent CONTENTS
Proclus, El. Th., 197.20
Introduction lX
Note on the Cover Illustration X111
Map XlV
1. Proclus' Life, Times and Influence I
Early years and rise to headship 1
Late Antiquity and the Neo-Platonic view of politics 6
Athens and the Neo-Platonic School 20
Posthumous developments and influence 27
2. General Metaphysics 48
Metaphysics and knowledge 48
All in all but appropriately 51
Similarity and identity 56
Sympathy 64
In threes and fours 66
Parts and wholes 67
Participation 71
Property and definition 73
Self-sufficiency 82
Paths of participation 85
Causation 86
J Six causes 88
© Lucas Siorvanes, 1996
The cause is prior to and greater than the effect 92
Edinburgh University Press One cause, plural effects 98
22 George Square, Edinburgh Power 100
Internal and independent powers 102
Typeset in Monotype Ehrhardt
by WestKey Ltd, Falmouth, Cornwall, and Remaining, procession, reversion 105
printed and bound in Great Britain Being in threes 109
Ii. CIP record for this book is available from the British Library
ISBN 0 7486 07684
VI Proclus Contents Vll
3. Knowledge and the Levels of Being 114 Modalities of the four Elements 232
The Neo-Platonic curriculum 114 Matter, motion and substance 235
Levels of being and knowledge 121 Light 241
The corporea11evel 127 Proclus' theory of motion of the Elements 244
Cause and effect in the physical domain 129 Space, body and matter 247
Body and Matter 130 Proclus and Philoponus on space 252
Subtle bodies and soul-vehicles 131
Space and Time 133 5. The Challenge of Reality: Stars and Planets 262
Nature l36 Metaphysics and astronomy 264
Imparticipable Nature? 137 Stars, gods and knowledge 264
Psyche 140 Satellites? 268
Personal mind and discursive thinking 141 Action and body 271
World soul 145 The celestial agent 272
Supracosmic Soul 146 Celestial physics 273
Intellect 148 How do the heavenly bodies move? 278
Divine Intellect 149 On spheres? No 279
Analysis of thought and non-discursive thinking (1) 154 By themselves? Yes 282
Life 158 Challenged by the stars 284
Imparticipable Life and Number 159 Challenged by the planets 293
Being and essence 161 How can they stray? 295
Imparticipable Being 163 How can they be contrariant? 299
Identity and non-discursive thinking (II) 165 Challenged by the earth 301
Unity 167 The cosmic heart and the navel 304
Thehenads 167
Unity, existence and individuality 169 Bibliography 317
Limit and the Unlimited 175
TheOne 179 General Index 331
One, Matter and the inverse hierarchy 183 Index of Main Passages 337
Desire, poetry and theurgy 189
4. Physics and Metaphysics 207
What are the Elements 209
Background 210
Plato's mathematical physics 211
Aristotle's qualitative physics 214
Proclus against Aristotle 215
The Earth Element 217
Void gaps 218
Physical qualities and geometrical properties 219
Particles and sub-particles 220
Proclus' Elements and their qualities 224
Bodies and powers 225
Perceptible qualities and primary properties 229
INTRODUCTION
Proclus was head of the school of philosophy at Athens, the 'Academy',
from the early age of25 until his death at 75. He lived in the fifth century
AD during the time of the great barbarian migrations, the invasion of Attila
the Hun, the fall of the Western Roman Empire and the rise of the Eastern
Roman Empire, which flourished for another 1,000 years in Byzantium.
Proclus was the son ofa barrister, an attorney-at- court, and was initially
intended to inherit his father's practice. But while studying law he had a
vision which revealed to him his true vocation in life, the search for the
realities. Proclus turned to philosophy and science. He pursued them to
the end of his life by combining analytical thinking with mystical inspira
tion and by leading a devout life: hard-working (reportedly writing 700
lines each day), vegetarian and worshipping all forms of the One God.
People ofm any faiths and races came to hear him lecture; one ofh is visitors
even became emperor of the West.
His philosophy, now known as Neo-Platonism but incorporating Aris
totle and Stoicism, spread far. Neo-Platonism is not only the final flower
ing ofa ncient Greek thought but also the mode in which it was transmitted
to the Byzantine, Western European and Islamic civilisations. It remained
influential even after the Enlightenment, particularly among the Idealist
philosophers. It can be found in Christian and Islamic theologies; in the
decorations and architecture of the Gothic Cathedrals; in the light meta
physics of Robert Grosseteste, Jacob Boehme and the Qp.akers; in the
Jewish Kabbalah; in the Latin Scholastics, Duns Scotus and Thomas
Aquinas, and Byzantines, Michael Psellus and George Plethon; in Renais
sance art, new science and mysticism; in the astronomy of Kepler; in the
poetry of Dante, Spenser and the Romantics; and in the philosophy of the
Cambridge Platonists, Hegel and Emerson. It has even spread to modern
popular phrases such as 'levels of meaning', 'planes of existence', 'holistic'
and 'organic'.
Plotinus was the first but by no means the sole founder. Porphyry and
x Proclus Introduction Xl
lamblichus disagreed with him and inaugurated cardinal changes. When (1990). R. Sorabji has opened the field wider with three volumes on late
Proclus became the head of the Athenian School, the post-Plotinian ancient theories of time, matter and ethics, but as part of the evaluation of
versions were in the mainstream. Proclus systematised N eo-Platonism and Aristotelian thought. Still, there has never been a general book on Proclus'
went on to dominate subsequent developments. During his fifty-year Neo-Platonic philosophy, both metaphysical and natural.
tenure, he brought it to its peak of influence. Thus, we can consider
Proclus as the spokesman of mature Neo-Platonism.
CONTENTS
Late Antiquity and N eo-Platonism still lie in the gap between compart
ments of scholarship, so the available studies are relatively few. Recent, Chapter I is a biography of Proclus in the context of the history of Late
more objective and penetrating research has begun to acquaint us both Antiquity; This is a fascinating period whose repercussions still appear in
with the dynamic changes in Late Antiquity and with its cultural and the news. Besides, it is a suitable place to present the Neo-Platonic views
intellectual vivacity. With the recognition that philosophy introduced on social affairs. The account ofProclus' School and key personalities at
many fresh ideas, and that we need to revise our views of this period Athens and Alexandria (several of whom are cited later in the book)
radically, there has come a tremendous upsurge of interest in the field continues with an attempt to cover his influence to modern times in the
worldwide. fields of philosophy, theology, science, the arts, mysticism etc., so that the
In the confines of this volume, I try to cover most areas of Proclus' reader may find all historical material in one chapter. To this I append a
very broad philosophical interest but concentrate on the underlying short evaluation.
themes in metaphysics and epistemology. Each chapter has two aims: Chapter 2 examines in detail the general principles ofProclus' system.
to present a general survey of Proclus and his Neo-Platonism, and to They permeate his analyses of all topics, from metaphysics and religion to
introduce new research and clarifications. It is thus hoped that the reader physics and astronomy. To these central concepts I cross-reference many
will become familiar with the facets of Neo-Platonism and will be of his other theories.
encouraged to delve deeper into the primary sources. To assist the Chapter 3 concentrates on each level of his system. Instead of starting
reader, I supply some 200 quotations, which include Greek terms in from the top (the One) and proceeding to the bottom (matter), I decided
their original grammatical form. For the transliterated Greek, I have here to start from the phenomenal (body) and advance to the fundamental
opted here for the scheme where u is rendered as y, except in diphthongs, (unity). This enables me to present the complex system in its more
since I have been persuaded that pronunciation in the fifth century AD practical, educational context: the Neo-Platonic curriculum of knowledge
was Byzantine, and thus closer to 'kathareuousa' Modern Greek. My and virtue. Further, this order helps to clarify the close connection of the
overall method is to present the material in the context of the ancient One to matter (on which Proclus disputed Plotinus) and the problem of
author. One theme which I consider to be characteristic of Proclus' simplicity. The chapter is completed with a look at Proclus' three paths to
system, and period, is that of unity-diversity. Since my study of Proclus God - eros, philosophy and theurgy - in the context of his modes of being
has not been limited to the trodden field, I offer an examination of the and knowledge. This also allows me to break the long narrative with some
neglected area ofProclus' thought, his natural philosophy. I encountered ofProclus' poems.
fresh ideas on the problems of knowledge and reality which did not Chapter 4 opens Proclus' metaphysics to the problems of body, matter,
surface again until the early modern era. All this puts Proclus under a motion and space. Greek philosophers were deeply concerned with these
new light, for he was indeed more than just a metaphysician. issues from the very beginning of philosophy, for they affected how the
The last book in English on Proclus' general metaphysics was by definition and principles of things are to be conceived. Platonists intro
L. J. Roscln in 1949, which was published by a small print-press. However, duced many significant innovations.
this fact would obscure the eminent treatises on Proclus' system by Chapter 5 focuses on a challenge to Proclus' metaphysics. Greek
W. Beierwaltes in German, the studies by J. Trouillard and P. Bastid in astronomers discovered that the supposedly perfect celestial objects orbit
French, the studies on Proc1us' theories ofb eing and causality by S. Gersh unconventionally. Thus, the whole chapter is essentially a case-study
in English, the collections of papers from two conferences in France and analysis of the live philosophical problem of mind-dependent versus
Switzerland in 1985, and A. C. Lloyd's The Anatomy of Neoplatonism mind-independent knowledge. How did Proclus fare in the test?
xu Proclus
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Little did I know in 1979 that a study on the transmission of Greek
NOTE ON THE COVER ILLUSTRATION
thought, and the purchasing of one of the last hardback copies of Dodds'
Proclus. The Elements of Theology, would lead to such a long engagement
with such a subject. I benefited from the encouragement and counsel of
many scholars in the fields of philosophy, classical and Byzantine studies,
The jacket illustration is based on a head, No. 581 in the Roman Collection
and history and philosophy of science. Repayment can never be adequate,
of the National Archaeological Museum, Athens, Greece. The type is of a
so I should like to offer my gratitude to all, including Henry Blumenthal,
Late Antique philosopher with the characteristic outward and upward stare.
Robert Browning, Averil Cameron, Marie Boas Hall, Alan Lacey, Antony
The forehead is trisected exactly at 1.5 cm intervals from the hairline to the
Lloyd, Dominic O'Meam, David Pingree, Piyo Rattansi, Henri-Domi
beginning of the nose, probably indicating the three main Neo-Platonic
niqu.e Saffrey, Mark Sainsbury, Lawrence Schrenk, David Sedley, Alain
metaphysical levels. Made of sparkling white marble, the head measures
Segonds, Robert Sharples and Richard Sorabji. Some of the best critics
31.8 cm (12.5 inches) high, 13 cm wide, and 23.3 cm deep. Two-fifths is
are one's students, so I should like to thank especially those who ask
missing. I first inspected the head in 1980. The help of A. Stauride and M.
persistently 'why?'
Oikonomidou is gratefully acknowledged. In 1990 I examined it in more
The research was supported by a residential Fellowship at Dumbarton
detail. I thank Mrs Romiopoulou and O. Tzachou-Alexandre for their
Oaks, Washington DC. I am grateful to the Senior Fellows and the Director
generous help, the phbtographs and publication permission.
of Dumba rto n Oaks, and to the Trustees for Harvard University, for the
The head was found in the south side of the Acropolis, in the Serpentze
opportunity to enjoy the tranquil yet stimulating research environment.
wall, in 1876-7. This was the locality ofProclus' School (V. Procli, 29): 'in
Special thanks also go to Irene Vaslef, Librarian of the ByzantIne Library,
the neighbourhood of the Asclepieion temple which Sophocles made
Natalia Teteriantikov, Director Byzantine Visual Resources, and Joseph
famous, and of the temple to Dionysius close to the Theatre'. Gerhart
Mills, Photographic Section. Further assistance in the USA was provided
Rodenwalt published the head in a collection oflate antique busts, many
by the Fulbright Program of International Exchange of Scholars, which
of them of philosophers (Criechische Portriits aus dem Ausgang der Antike
awarded me a Senior Scholar grant (Philosophy). I also profited from the
(Berlin, 1919), p. 4, pI. III (n. 2», and speculated that it might be that of
Fulbright Conferences on contemporary issues, some of which were
Proclus. More recent research has suggested an earlier Neo-Platonist,
relevant to the historical chapter. In the UK, research was aided by a
lamblichus (H. P. L'Orange, 'Some remarks on late Greek portraiture,
Leverhulme Trust Research Fellowship, and I am grateful to the Awards
especially the lamblichos type', Acta ad Archeologiam et Artium Historiam
Committee for their generous support.
Pertinentia 6 (1975), pp. 59-63), or perhaps Porphyry (P. Kalligas, Por
L. S.
phyry on the Life ofPlotinus (Athens, 1991), frontispiece and appendix 3).
See also E. Voutiras, 'Ein wiedergewonnenes attisches Portrat der
Spatantike', Mitteilungen des DeutschenArchiiologischen Instituts (Athen),
96 (1981), pp. 201-8 and A. Ntatsoule-Stauride, Roman Portraits in the
National Archaeological Museum in Athens (in Greek) (Athens, 1985).
According to his biographer, 'Proclus was very attractive to see; for not
only had he a symmetry in appearance but also the beauty of his soul
bloomed on his body and, like a living light, shone wonderfully in a manner
which is hard to put into words. He was so elegant to behold that none of
the painters was able to capture completely his likeness: although their
works were excellent, they all fell very short in the imitation of the true
form' (V. Procli, 3).
L.S.
HUNS
.
Apamea.
d Emessa
Caesarea
Mauretanis .
Ch:lciS ·palmyra
r ,
• Damascus
.,
EASTERN ROMAN • Jerusalem
("'Berber raids
• Petra
ARABS
~"oirls
(Sudanoso) (\
Map: Proclus' world, fifth century AD
1
•
PROCLUS' LIFE, TIMES AND INFLUENCE
Proclus lived from about AD 411 to 485. Uncertainties remain regarding
his year of birth, but his time of death is confidently determined by his
biography, which even gives us a date: 17 April.
Proclus' biography, the main source of information for his life, was
written by Marinus, Proclus' immediate successor as Head of the School
at Athens. Marinus was from Neapolis (modern Nablus), a major
Hellenised city in Samaria. The biography follows a stylistic plan based
on the Neo-Platonic theory that 'true happiness' (eudaimonia) depends on
the kinds of virtue which one attains during life, and reviews Proclus'
progress according to each; it almost functions as a 'Hellenic' hagiography.
It bears similarities with other biographies of sages, such as Porphyry's
Life of Plotinus, Philostratus' Life of Apollonius of Tyana (the Neo
Pythagorean who rivalled Jesus), and Iamblichus' Life of Pythagoras.
Proclus' Life is a rich source of 'inside' information on Proclus and the
kind of community that he lived in, presented by someone who knew him
intimately and shared his way of thinking. It was written less than a year
after his death.
The other source is Damascius' Life of Isidorus, extant only in frag
ments. Damascius was the Head of the School at the time of Justinian's
ban in 529. His is a more prosaic account, full of invaluable information,
including many irreverent anecdotes about the later Platonic philosophers
and Proclus.
1. EARLY YEARS AND RISE TO HEADSHIP
Proclus was born in Byzantium, the 'New Rome', the jewel of the Eastern
Roman Empire. The problem about his year of birth is irreconcilable data:
according to his corrected horoscope he was born on 8 February 412; but
according to his cited lifespan, 75, and year of death, he was born around
410. Of the two, the horoscope is the less reliable. We do not know its
2 Proclus Proclus'Life, Times and Influence 3
provenance; it needs substantial emendations to be consistent; the place power politics than in religious affiliations? Rumours abounded on the
of-birth datum is wrong (not for the latitude of Helle spontl Byzantium); degree of his support. For example, in the early years of his regency he
most importantly, it is crudely cast and is well below Proclus' astronomical had promoted Lucius, a Roman and a pagan, to the office of Master of the
standards. On the other hand, the biography cites unambiguously in two Army, who is said to have aided him against the forthright Patriarch John
different sections (3 and 26) that Proclus lived for seventy-five years. At Chrysostom. If so, then this would be the same Lucius who, according to
any rate, Marinus did not know Proclus' date of birth, or he would have Damascius (Vita Isidori, fro 303, pp. 241-3), attempted to assassinate
mentioned it just as he did for his time of death. Later in this chapter, I Theodosius II in order to restore the 'indissoluble faith', paganism, and
submit that the horoscope is not Proclus' birth certificate but a backdated become a new emperor Julian. In July 414, after a series of palace intrigues,
construct cast after his death for the purposes of the biography. Further, Pulcheria removed Anthemius from his position and from history. Radical
!show that most oft he ages, including 75, which are cited in the biography, moves against non-Christians began soon thereafter.
are laden with Neo-Platonic symbolism. I suggest that Proclus was born In 415, a new law was passed that forbade the building of new syna
around early 411. gogues and allowed the destruction of those that had been deserted. In
Proclus' parents, Marcella and Patricius, 'joined in legal marriage' as Alexandria, the celebrated commercial and cultural centre of the eastern
Marinus happily confirms, were of high birth. His father was a barrister, Mediterranean, fighting between Jews and Christians gave the opportun
an attorney-at-court, with a successful practice. His parents came origin ity to the new bishop Cyril to lead a Christian mob against the Jews and
ally from Xanthus, a wealthy seaside town in Lycia, Asia Minor, which force them in their thousands out of Alexandria. He is the same Cyril who
had a famous ancient temple of Apollo (sculptures of it can be seen at the is said to have incited, in the same year, the cruel murder of Hypatia by
British Museum). another Christian mob. Moderate Christian leaders pleaded for the cessa
They returned to Xanthus when Proclus was still a child. Marinus does tion of violence. Damascius (Vita Isidori, fro 102) attributes the atrocity to
not tell us why and when they left the capital, but we can guess. The first Cyril's envy of Hypatia's popularity - though local politics was the main
option is that Proclus' father was promoted, with relocation to his native reason. Hypatia was the leading figure in Neo-Platonic philosophy and
l
city as an irresistible side-benefit. Yet it must be questioned: how could mathematics at Alexandria. She was the daughter ofT heon of Alexandria,
relocation away from the capital and the imperial court be advantageous the author of the Handy Tables ofa stronomical positions (which were used
to a law advocate? Significant changes in Byzantium about that time point both for astronomical and astrological purposes), and of commentaries on
to a deeper reason for the move, and provide a date. Theodosius II, the Euclid and Ptolemy's Syntaxis. Hypatia was also famous for her candid
appointed Eastern emperor, was still a minor. It was a time of distress for dismissal of advances made by lovesick students. Damascius records with
the empire. In 410, near Proclus' birth, the Visigoths had sacked Rome, some admiration the episode in which she lifted her skirts, presented the
the Eternal City. The guardian who ruled in the name of the emperor in stunned student with her bloody sanitary towel and exclaimed: 'this is
the East was the praetorian prefect Anthemius. He was responsible for what you desire, young man, and it is no good! ... which changed his mind
many important public works including the great walls of Byzantium. and disposed him to be more sensible' (thus Hypatia is now regarded as a
They were initially intended for defence against the Huns, and lasted with paradigm of feminism). Still, in 415 another new law was passed. It was
periodic restorations for 1,000 years until Turkish cannon reduced them the first general exclusion of pagans from imperial service and the army.
in 1453. His regency continued until 414, when Theodosius' elder sister Therefore it is most reasonable to assume that devout 'Hellenes', like
Pulcheria decided to take over. She was a strict, almost fanatical Christian Proclus' parents, felt obliged either to lie low or to m.ove out ofB yzantium.
who declared herself a virgin, even when she later married, and turned the However, pagan influence was not checked. A century later, the Emperor
palace into a monastery staffed with eunuchs. Most of the educated and Justinian found it necessary to issue further persecutions and to target
professional classes of that period still adhered to the traditional religion intellectuals and professionals, such as barristers.
of classical Greece and Rome, and called themselves 'Hellenes'. In other Proclus' father intended him too for a legal career. Most occupations
words, in the eyes of the Christians they were 'pagans'. Anthemius was had become hereditary. After studying for a while at Xanthus with a
known to be a Christian. However, his associations with 'Hellenes' suggest private tutor, the young Proclus was sent to Alexandria to study rhetoric
2
that he might have been receptive to them. Was he more interested in and Roman law. Rhetoric, the art of persuasive speaking and writing, was