Run the Numbers: The Theology of Arithmetic
We discuss a little gem of a work from late antiquity, the ‘Theology of Arithmetic’. This book is a late-antique arithmological handbook, collecting all manner of lore to do with each of the arithmological numbers from the Monad to the Decad in sequence.
Primary Sources
Physics, Metaphysics, and Ethics
This text serves as the foundation for Western natural philosophy by demanding that we identify the 'why' behind every phenomenon. Aristotle rejects the idea that the universe results from random chance. He argues that nature operates with clear purpose and that every change requires a specific caus
Aristotle (Cambridge, University Library, MS Add. 1732)
Aristotle argues here that the universe is finite, ordered, and governed by natural laws that leave no room for the random or the infinite. He rejects the idea of a chaotic cosmos, insisting that everything from the path of a comet to the development of an embryo follows a predictable, purposeful de
On Dreams (De Insomniis)
Synesius of Cyrene offers a breathtaking synthesis of Neoplatonic philosophy and orthodox theology in this profound exploration of spiritual formation. He challenges the reader to view the soul as a building under construction and the body not as a source of evil, but as a sacred vessel to be discip
Aristotle (Cambridge, University Library, MS Ii.5.44)
This manuscript challenges the modern assumption that ethics is merely a list of rules. Aristotle argues that virtue is a stable state of the soul formed through habit and deliberate action. He draws a hard line between theoretical wisdom and practical prudence, insisting that knowing what is right
Greek philosophical miscellany (Cambridge, University Library, MS Dd.4.16)
This manuscript acts as a master key to Aristotelian thought, blending ethics, rhetoric, and political theory into a single argument about the human condition. It insists that happiness is not a feeling but an active practice of virtue that requires a lifetime to achieve. The text does not just theo
On the Pythagorean Life (De Vita Pythagorica)
This work presents Pythagoras not merely as a mathematician, but as a semi-divine reformer who sought to align human life with the order of the cosmos. It details a rigorous path of purification through music, diet, and strict communal ethics. Readers will encounter a tradition that treats education
Life of Pythagoras (Iamblichus)
In this classic translation by Thomas Taylor, Iamblichus presents Pythagoras as a semi-divine figure whose 'Pythagoric Life' serves as a blueprint for human excellence. The text moves beyond simple biography to synthesize ancient mysteries from Egypt and Babylon with a rigorous ethical framework tha
Complete Works of Aristotle
Complete Works of Aristotle (Aristotelis Opera Omnia)
Aristotle’s 'Rhetoric' is far more than a manual for oratory; it is a profound exploration of human psychology and the ethical foundations of social life. By defining rhetoric as the counterpart to dialectic, Aristotle elevates persuasion from mere emotional manipulation to a structured art based on
Works of Aristotle (Vol. 2)
This text provides a direct look at Aristotle's natural philosophy as he connects the material world to human behavior. He argues that plants, animals, and humans follow consistent physical laws governed by heat, moisture, and motion. By examining everything from the optics of shadows to the mechani