On Plato's "Cratylus"Proclus' commentary on Plato's Cratylus is the only ancient commentary on this work to have come down to us, and is illuminating in two special ways. First, it is actually the work of two Neoplatonists. The majority of the material is supplied by the Athenian-based Proclus (c. 411-485 AD), who is well known for his magisterial commentaries on Plato's Timaeus and Parmenides, as well as for a host of other works involving the study of Plato. This material we have consists of excerpts from Proclus' commentary edited by another figure who appears to be a Platonist working somewhat later in Alexandria. Consequently it contains insights into the philosophy of both of the principal late antique centers of Platonism, Athens and Alexandria. Secondly, the material is divided between the grittier issues of language-theory, on which it engages freely with other ancient philosophies, and theological discussion mostly involved with the etymologies of the names of Greek gods, in which Proclus is more concerned to relate his own brand of Platonism to the 'Orphic' and 'Chaldaean' theological systems, and also to Homer. Brian Duvick's extensive notes bring out all these facets of the ancient text. |
Contents
Notes | 109 |
Synopsis of the Three Theological Systems of Proclus | 173 |
EnglishGreek Glossary | 193 |
Copyright | |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
According to Proclus activity Ammonius analogous Apollo argument Aristotle aspect assigned Athena body called cause celestial Chald Chaldaean Oracles commentary correct cosmic cosmos Crat Cratylus creation creatures Cronian Cronus cycle daemons Demeter Demiurge dialectical Dionysus discrimination discussion divine names encosmic entities essence eternal etymology excerptor exist Father Fontal genera Goddess Hades harmony heaven Hecate henad Hera HERM Hermogenes Hesiod Hestia Homer human huparxis Independent gods indicates ineffable instrument intellectual sphere intelligible and intellectual intelligible region intelligible-intellectual Iunges knowledge lawgiver life-bearing matter monad mortal motion mundane nature Neoplatonic objects Orpheus Orphic Parm particular paternal perfect Phaedrus Phanes Philosophy Plat Plato Pluto Poseidon principle prior procession Proclus explains produces proper Protagoras Reality realm relation reveals revolutions Rhea says Socrates soul subsequent supercelestial supercosmic symbols Teletarchs term Theol theologians theurgist theurgy things third thought Timaeus transcendent triad truth unity universal Uranus Zeus