Proclus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Proclus Lycius
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The beginning of the first Latin edition of Proclus' Commentary on Euclid's Elements
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| Born | 412 Constantinople, Thracia, Eastern Roman Empire
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| Died | 485 (aged 72–73) Athens, Achaea, Eastern Roman Empire
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| Other names | "The Successor" |
| Era | Ancient philosophy |
| Region | Western philosophy |
| School | Neoplatonism |
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Main interests
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Metaphysics |
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Notable ideas
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Platonic theology |
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Influences
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Influenced
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Proclus Lycius (born in 412 AD, died in 485 AD) was an important Greek philosopher. He was known as "Proclus the Successor." He lived during a time called late antiquity, which was the end of the classical era.
Proclus was a key thinker in a school of thought called Neoplatonism. He created one of the most detailed systems of Neoplatonist ideas. His work later influenced many other types of philosophy, including Byzantine philosophy, Early Islamic philosophy, and Scholastic philosophy.
Contents
Proclus's Life Story
Most of what we know about Proclus comes from a special writing called Proclus, or On Happiness. This was written by his student and successor, Marinus, after Proclus died. Marinus wrote it to show how good and happy Proclus's life was. Another philosopher named Damascius also wrote a little about Proclus's time.
Proclus was born in 412 AD in Constantinople. His family was important and came from a place called Lycia. He grew up in Xanthus.
Early Education and Career
Proclus first studied rhetoric (the art of speaking well), philosophy, and mathematics in Alexandria. He planned to become a lawyer, like his father. But he soon realized he liked philosophy much more than law.
He went back to Alexandria to study the works of Aristotle with a teacher named Olympiodorus the Elder. He also studied mathematics with a teacher named Heron.
Moving to Athens
Proclus was a very talented student. He eventually felt that the teaching in Alexandria wasn't enough for him. So, in 431 AD, he moved to Athens, which was a major center for philosophy at the time.
In Athens, he studied at a famous school that followed Neoplatonism. His teachers included Plutarch of Athens and Syrianus. In 437 AD, Proclus became the head of this school, taking over from Syrianus. After Proclus died, his student Marinus took his place.
Proclus lived in Athens as a vegetarian and never married. He was wealthy and kind to his friends. He spent his life writing, reportedly writing 700 lines every day. He lived there until he died, except for one year when he was exiled to avoid pressure from Christian authorities.
Proclus's Philosophy
It can be tricky to figure out exactly what ideas were unique to Proclus. This is because Neoplatonists believed they were simply explaining the true meaning of Plato's ideas. They didn't see themselves as creating new philosophies.
Proclus, like other Neoplatonists, believed in three main parts of reality:
- The One: This is the ultimate, perfect source of everything.
- The Intellect: This is like a divine mind that contains all perfect forms and ideas.
- The Soul: This connects the Intellect to the physical world.
Proclus wrote a commentary on the Enneads, a famous work by Plotinus, another Neoplatonist. Proclus also had some different ideas from Plotinus. For example, Proclus did not believe that physical matter was evil.
Henads and Divine Chains
A special part of Proclus's system was his idea of "henads." These are like individual divine powers or "ones" that exist between The One and the Intellect. Proclus connected these henads with the Greek gods.
He believed that each henad was the source of a "chain of causation" (seirai). For example, the henad of Apollo would be the cause of all things related to Apollo. These henads are all connected, and each one shares in the nature of the others.
Philosophy and the Soul
Proclus believed that philosophy could help free the soul from being controlled by bodily desires. It could remind the soul of its true origin in the Soul, Intellect, and The One. This would prepare the soul to rise to higher levels of understanding, even while still alive. It would also help the soul avoid being reborn into a new body after death.
Proclus thought that because our souls are so focused on the physical world, we need physical reminders of our spiritual home. He agreed with the idea of theurgy, which was a set of religious rituals and practices. Theurgy was possible because the powers of the gods (the henads) reached down into the material world. Through certain powerful words, actions, and objects, the soul could be drawn back up towards its divine source. Proclus himself practiced many religions in Athens, believing that the gods' power could be found in different ways.
Proclus's Writings
Most of Proclus's writings are commentaries on the dialogues of Plato. These include works like Alcibiades, Cratylus, Parmenides, Republic, and Timaeus.
In these commentaries, Proclus presented his own philosophical system. He believed he was faithfully explaining Plato's true ideas. He thought that "nothing in Plato's corpus is unintended or there by chance" and that "Plato's writings were divinely inspired." He believed Plato often hid deeper truths from those who weren't ready for them.
Main Systematic Works
Proclus also wrote two major systematic works:
- The Elements of Theology: This book has 211 statements, each with a proof. It starts by showing that The One exists and ends with how individual souls come into the physical world.
- The Platonic Theology: This work organizes ideas from Plato's dialogues. It explains the characteristics of the divine parts of the universe that are closest to The One.
He also wrote three essays that only exist in Latin translations: Ten doubts concerning providence, On providence and fate, and On the existence of evils.
Proclus's Influence
Proclus had a big impact on philosophy during the Middle Ages, even though it was often indirect.
Pseudo-Dionysius
One important way his ideas spread was through the writings of Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite. This Christian writer lived in the late 400s or early 500s AD. He used a fake name, pretending to be a follower of St. Paul. Because of this, his writings were seen as very important. Many of Proclus's ideas about metaphysics (the nature of reality) can be found in Pseudo-Dionysius's works.
Boethius and Liber de Causis
Another key source of Proclus's influence was Boethius's book, Consolation of Philosophy. This book contains several of Proclus's ideas. For example, a poem in Book III summarizes Proclus's Commentary on the Timaeus.
A summary of Proclus's Elements of Theology became widely known as Liber de Causis (the Book of Causes). This book was thought to be written by Aristotle in the Arabic world and later translated into Latin under his name. It was highly respected because people believed Aristotle wrote it. It was only when Proclus's original Elements were translated into Latin that Thomas Aquinas realized where the ideas truly came from.
Proclus's works also influenced thinkers during the Renaissance, like Nicholas of Cusa and Marsilio Ficino.
The crater Proclus on the Moon is named after him.
See also
- Allegorical interpretations of Plato
