Commentary on Plato's Timaeus

But we shall strive to remain upon the Platonic and Orphic original: "Orphikōn"; referring to the mystical teachings attributed to the mythical poet Orpheus, which Proclus believed were the source of Plato's theology. hypotheses. Indeed, all those who falsely honor nature are found to be correct if they look toward the nature that completes the whole; but if they focus on the nature of particular things, they do so correctly, though not as if toward a random occurrence.

On the one hand, one fears the Craftsman original: "technitēs"; the divine artisan or Demiurge who shapes the world., about whom they are commanded to engage in physiology original: "physiologia"; in this context, the study of the laws of nature or physics.. On the other hand, nature acts as the primary leader and the principle of common things. If, therefore, the color in the divine realm original: "daimonion"; the sphere of semi-divine spirits or powers mediating between gods and men. is greater within it, it will be well and reasonably imitated by the rest through art; and fire exists as the "art" of the world.

If it is something unique, it may be so by chance; but if it is alone, it also exists before the whole. And if it is nature, it concerns the primary things. Therefore, the names of beings are defined; not those that perish in the middle. But possessing things that flow according to them, it falls into a state of assertion. Or toward each of the living beings, if there is a formative principle original: "logos"; a rational structure or "seed" that determines the development of a physical thing.
what is the essence of nature

as active as this one; it provides both the images and the causes to nature.

Since you know that the natural philosophers original: "physiologōn" of the present time preferred the essence of bodies above all. But one must grant him a reason: to be able to look into oneself. It is clear from these things that this whole account is physical, teaching us about the whole creation of the world original: "kosmopoiïas"; the process by which the universe is constructed.. It would follow then to connect it to this book; for the whole of philosophy is one, reasonably containing the contemplation original: "theōrian"; a deep, meditative study or vision of truth. of both the intelligible original: "noētōn"; the realm of pure ideas or forms accessible only to the mind. and the generative causes.

Because for this reason the whole world is both intelligible and sensible original: "aisthētos"; perceivable by the five senses.. Just as if the same person were looking on: one as a particular part, not including the treatment of the Mind original: "nous"; the Divine Intellect. within the inquiry. The other, more so, not of the things in the world in this way. For the one hands down the order from the Mind itself. The other is established from the measures of the things in the world.

Neither does the former observe things in the whole apart from those here; nor does the latter observe things without those who dwell here. The Reason original: "logos" and the sensible exist in the uniform things original: "monoeidesi"; simple, non-composite forms that remain consistent. prior to the paradigm; and again, the uniform exists in sensible things as an image. Yet the former abounds in the study of nature,