Proclus: The Elements of Theology - Paperback

by Thomas Taylor (Author)

The "Elements of Theology" is one of Proclus' most famous works. The translator Thomas Taylor describes the Elements thus: "This admirable work contains two hundred and eleven propositions, disposed in a scientific order, and supported by the firmest demonstrations. They begin from the super-essential unity, and proceed gradually through all the beautiful and wonderful progressions of divine causes, ending in the self-moving energies of souls. They possess all the accuracy of Euclid, and all the subtlety and sublimity necessary to a knowledge of the most profound theology; and may be considered as bearing the same relation to the Pythagoric and Platonic wisdom, as Euclid's Elements, to the most abstruse geometry. . . . it is replete with sublimest knowledge, and the most important truths. . . . the propositions relate to the most abstract subjects that can be conceived; and the demonstrations are uncommonly subtle and profound. I only add, that these Elements form an admirable introduction to the six books of Proclus on Plato's Theology."-Thomas Taylor, from the Foreword.

Author Biography

Thomas Taylor (1758-1835) was an English Platonist and translator of Greek philosophic texts. He was the first to translate into English the complete works of Plato and Aristotle. His voluminous translations, original writings and articles represent the single most complete rendering of the ancient western philosophy and theology into English. A full collection of his works (original scans, paperbacks and ebooks) can be found online at: http: //www.universaltheosophy.com/writings-taylor/ -- Proclus is one of the most famous Platonic philosophers, referred to as the "Platonic Successor". He wrote voluminously on varied subjects of Greek philosophy, metaphysics, theology, etc., though the majority of his works were destroyed and are no longer extant. Of the works that remain extant, the most popular are his commentary on the Timaeus of Plato, "On the Theology of Plato" and his "Elements of Theology" (see biography by Marinus, and Thomas Taylor's summary "On the Writings of Proclus")