Proclus' Elements of Theology, 2nd edition

This is one of the great books of the Platonic Tradition. Its scope is the whole sphere of `Authentic Reality' which Plato recommends to all who aspire to wisdom, and which Plotinus outlines in his Enneads. It takes as its starting point The One - the highest and most abstract idea that the human mind can affirm, - and follows dialectically the unfolding of this through division, analysis, demonstration, and definition. It shows how The One is perfectly manifest in the Gods, and then how it `descends' while at the same time remaining exempt, at each succeeding level of intellect, soul, and body. A work of unequalled dialectic. This second Prometheus edition has Taylor's extensive notes from his 1792 edition added to the main text of his 1816 edition.