Edward Butler on Proclus, Part II: On (the Metaphysics of) Polytheism and Monotheism
The conversation turns to polytheism and monotheism; stimulated by Perl 2010, cited below, we discuss the degree to which the difference between the two positions might disappear at the highest levels of ‘ontology’.
Primary Sources
Proclus: Platonic Theology and Elements of Theology
This work defines the hierarchy of the universe through the eyes of one of antiquity's final great thinkers. Proclus argues that reality is not a random collection of objects but a systematic emanation from the One. He explains how human intellect can bridge the gap between mortal limitations and et
Elements of Theology and Physics
Proclus’s 'Elements of Theology and Physics' is a monumental achievement in late classical philosophy, offering a systematic 'More Geometrico' (mathematical style) approach to the nature of existence. By transforming metaphysical inquiry into a series of logical propositions and proofs, Proclus maps
The Elements of Theology
The Elements of Theology functions as a rigorous, axiomatic guide to the structure of reality. Proclus assumes that if a first cause exists, all subsequent levels of being must unfold with mathematical necessity. He maps the path from the singular source of all things down to individual souls and ma