The first principle in late Neoplatonism
Subtitle: a study of the One's causality in Proclus and Damascius
By: by Jonathan Greig
Series: Philosophia antiqua : a series of studies on ancient philosophy -- volume 156; Philosophia antiqua -- v. 156.
Publisher: Brill
Published: 2021
Place of publication: Leiden; Boston
Language: eng; grc
Number of pages: 346
ISBN-13: 9789004439054; 9789004439092
Copyright date: 2021
Subjects: Causation; First philosophy; One (The One in philosophy); Neoplatonism
Description: In 'The First Principle', Jonathan Greig examines the philosophical theology of the two Neoplatonists, Proclus and Damascius (5th-6th centuries A.D.), on the One as the first cause. Both philosophers address a tension in the Neoplatonic tradition: namely that the One was seen as absolutely transcendent, yet it was also seen as intimately related to other things as the source of their unity and being. Proclus' solution is to posit intermediate causes after the One, while Damascius posits a distinct principle, the 'Ineffable', above the One. This book provides a new, thorough study of the theories of causation that lead each to their respective position and reveals crucial insights involved in a rigorous negative theology employed in metaphysics.
Notes: Revision of the author's thesis (doctoral)--Universität München, 2017.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 315-330) and indexes.

English with Greek citations.
Table of contents: title: The background to Proclus and Damascius; title: Proclus' causal framework; title: Damascius' causal framework; title: Proclus on the One's causality; title: Damascius on the One's causality and the ineffable.