Commentary on Plato's Timaeus

...the peculiarity of the tongue, to give? to all the judgment of the gods through the Pythagorean brilliance. But if it is necessary that the discourse also be made similar to the things which it explains—just as Timaeus said concerning the things that are always the same—then the Dialogue itself must be both physical original: "physikon" — relating to the study of the natural world entirely?, and also theological, imitating nature. Since indeed analogy original: "to analogon" — the principle of proportion is the best way to explain things, matters are therefore divided into the intelligible original: "noēta" — things known by the mind rather than the senses and the physical, and into the theorems associated with them; Plato established all of these under this structure.

He says that the eternal principle of the world is its change and its present state. In mathematical matters, both are present, perhaps iconically original: "eikonikalōs" — through images or likenesses; for you have grasped concerning the paradigms original: "paradeigmatōn" — the eternal models or "blueprints" of the universe that in physical things there are images shadows of them. Thus, Timaeus also having spoken explains the nature of the sun through mathematical names, revealing the solutions and whatever else contains both ratios logic and elements. Plato, moreover, defines their properties through geometric shapes. And he grants to all things inspiration and a demiurgic original: "dēmiourgikēn" — relating to the divine Craftsman or Creator harmony; it is necessary for these causes to reach their starting principles.

Truly, the investigation of such matters and of particulars will better instruct us.

What is the subject matter?

Such, then, are the matters of the dialogue and of Timaeus. If the subject matter follows these things: Socrates, having arrived at the Piraeus with the Syracusans The text mentions Syracusans here, possibly referring to the guests from Magna Graecia like Timaeus himself. for a festival and a procession, held a discussion concerning the Republic original: "Politeia" — the title of Plato's famous work on the ideal state with those men—namely Polemarchus the son of Cephalus, and Glaucon, and also... the sophist who was heard understood?. On the following day, he comes to Timaeus and Hermocrates, and arrives also before the same? one? but a namesake original: "homōnymon" — likely referring to Critias. Wherefore, the gathering in the Piraeus is assumed to be as in the Republic; having completed those labors, he [Socrates] invited them to speak in return...