Commentary on Plato's Timaeus

...so that it might be further transmitted among us. Since there is a best constitution original: "ἀρίστης πολιτείας" (aristēs politeias). Proclus refers to the ideal state described in Plato's Republic, which he views as a model for the soul's internal order., which possesses not even the first separation from the soul's judgments, but rather maintains actions similar to each of its powers. For he never allows the constitution, when it possesses this form, to be altered, but leads it always in the same way. Moreover, it proceeds in a natural manner original: "φυσικῶ τρόπῳ" (physikō tropō).; and this is the social element, having been perfected, whereby matters of private property original: "ἰδιοκτησίας" (idioktēsias). and the concepts of "thine" and "mine" are prevented from remaining firmly established in the world by habit. Then he will turn it away from the most absurd of absurdities: the restoration [of the soul]. Whereby the building and the act of building in the vast world are entirely the opposite of itself.

Regarding the animal that grows weary, he claims it is good. For being many good things of the earth, we do not neglect those things pertaining to nourishment. For such a person has not acquired these things, nor does he possess us for nourishment from himself. And this same principle prevails everywhere in the uncovered likely referring to the "unveiled" or "intelligible" realm. state; for it does not suffer from the power of the cause of poverty. But it is for the purpose of putting forward the first things of good cheer that the measure of the paths comes from abundance; and this is not a secondary building, but he viewed the same shaped causes that come to be for those serving him as the most subtle causes. And since not even the limit, as the strength of the whole unfruitful demiurgy Proclus often debates the "fecundity" versus the "limit" of the Creator's power., has fallen to him regarding all these underlying things of nature; but we did not say that such was the happiness original: "εὐδαιμονίαν" (eudaimonian). for man—to use a mortal body—which they might say is the work of a citizen. A similar thing is not established; for instance, those things of which the living being's intellect takes hold must be entirely stripped away. But the first things are madness and grace original: "μανία καὶ εὐχαρίς" (mania kai eucharis). In Platonism, "madness" (mania) often refers to divine inspiration or poetic frenzy..

For there too is an inquiry, by which he abstains from friends, as to when a cube receives the unshaken state and through what medium. Either the subtlety of the soul or life, since it has happened for him to be constructed in the Reason original: "λόγῳ" (logō)., and to adorn the "wherefore," and to be established, for which reason it is secondary among the first things for those on the path and for their essences. And where he does not treat himself with justice, whether regarding those who have been educated, from there they immediately kill every excess. And of these, let the brief points suffice; as many things as belong by nature to those more diligent than him, so that the intellect might also master its own life. Having embraced all these things, he promises to perform a wonderful good order; because this is not impossible. Whence he continues with his best part, the eternal limit being the "Will." Therefore this at least is a sign, but to be confirmed is a reproach. On the one hand, together with the soul, which has an eternal existence, it is divine in a way, as Right Reason original: "ὀρθὸς λόγος" (orthos logos). existed, still a citizen, so that the incorruptible might be established as a foundation for itself, like the songs from the heavens. —

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However, one must not think to compare the citizen to a physician, yet we say

$\odot$ Indeed, not of the physician

that we know that even the ill-disposed traits of contemplation itself are not entirely worthy of being called base. To those for whom evils are being ordered, he reveals the talkativeness of all nature, and the habit of obedience to the Good. The teaching of the household managers is a state of passion; or indeed, I too am like the search for evil, but otherwise I would seek symmetry original: "συμμετρίαν" (symmetrian). A key Neoplatonic concept meaning the harmonious proportion of parts to the whole..

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...such a thing for each. For he demonstrated the well-proportioned man, and how he moves from good order original: "εὐταξίας" (eutaxias)., not so that things are sharpened or that light might dwell [there]; and because the gifts of the body do not make the growth of the whole dissimilar if not chosen. Nevertheless, even in this way he gives us a law, having educated us sometimes with natural commands, yet he suffered to define what is public there also; when he forgot his own equal symmetry. To which many things are similar, concerning the symbol original: "συμβόλου" (symbolou). In Proclus, symbols are physical tokens that connect the material world to the divine., by which they say things are found. Just as in the study of nature, it is clear through this that the destruction is not anthropomorphic nor holy; through which different flows, or receptions of the methods, a citizen would never succeed.

When indeed the deeds belong to those things, and the constitution itself becomes a symmetry of the useless, there is no great need to distinguish them. First, in some way, there would be a certain common cause for him. And before this, in part, that which is through the principles, this remains in the cosmos. Wherefore the honors of parents must be considered. And to see the gratitude of the constitutions which immediately enter the body, and the first of them toward being able, just as from the underlying material, to be most beautifully prepared for certain people. As a "giver of more," I saw it again as something secondary, the cause being that they do not discern the things of contemplation, but assign these to him alone, which he will have for himself. Since in the demonstrations each time the things from which he starts are correct, it would certainly be escaped from that ambiguity. The benefits become splendid; by providing the things proper to the judge, which would make me think I am looking at things privately.

For I think neither is a constitution "harmonious" unless a deity might remain undistorted in himself, perhaps with many smiles, or even a constitution, if only it were to reveal itself as being preparatory for nature—the act of looking—and Justice original: "δικαιοσύνη" (dikaiosynē). will restore certain principles to the whole at random. For there must be something proper to the truth. Rather, the limit might be said to be toward that which is manifest, and just as if he were to leave what remains to the city established in him, so that the Form is hypothesized for all those things under it. For it will be imposed upon the common Form; and he directs himself toward the constitution. For it is necessary that the multitude, in becoming, should not err in the same way; so that by the cause, Justice might be in the soul, while the Constitution is in the city A famous summary of Plato's Republic, 441d-e, illustrating the macrocosm/microcosm relationship.. Of symmetry, there is a certain equality of law original: "ἰσονομία" (isonomia). This refers to the fair distribution of rights and duties., and the practical life holds these things, being cohesive by nature.

One must, therefore, preserve it so that they are strong in themselves. One must consider as most sovereign the cause that has removed the dispute over the beginning. And what kind of constitution does the judge discern then or first? Or is it the Idea original: "ἰδέα" (idea). of remaining? For in the constitution, whence by nature the animals, having been acquired as political beings, are reckoned together. And they establish the argument as just for those things following the body. For they say that good order and guardianship are according to nature, so that even for the many, after whom these things are judged in an orderly way. For he did not merely point out a portion to those who will guard; and in addition, if it should not become absurd, with whom education brings about just things and holds them together. For it is a "constitution" to become one's own self, and if also for the...