Platonism

Commentary on the Republic: the Good is more powerful than the Truth in this class we begin to discuss Proclus' defense of Homer in the case of Zeus's…

Commentary on the Republic: The Shape of the Gods we discuss Proclus' account of what it means when the gods appear in specific shapes and change shape in…

Commentary on the Republic: Divine Provocation to Punishment we finish the discussion of the temptation of Pandarus and return to the issue of Zeus calling the gods to…

Commentary on the Republic: Evil in Myth in this class we discuss two problematic passages in Homer, from Socrates' point of view: the description of Zeus as having…

Commentary on the Republic: Daimones at war we look into how Proclus applies his way of explaining conflicts of the gods to Homer, saying that the gods are…

Commentary on the Republic: Wars amongst the Gods in this class we go over Prolcus' allegorical interpretation of war/dissension amongst the goss in myths. He gives 2 (maybe…

Commentary on the Republic: Allegorical Interpretation of Myths continuing the discussion

Commentary on the Republic: Every Myth has a Daimonic Surface we continue the discussion of the principles of mythical obscenity and the Platonic prooftext for justifying allegorical interpretation…

Commentary on the Republic: Harmonizing Plato with Plato we start the sixth essay, on harmonizing the Plato that criticizes poets with the Plato that quotes them as authorities,…

Commentary on the Republic: the purpose of poetry and the cosmic poet we finish essay 5, discussing Proclus' account of what the telos of poetry is and who…

Commentary on the Republic: Philosophy and the Muses we discuss question 5 of the the fifth essay, on the different kinds of Mousike and the relationship between philosophy…

Commentary on The Republic: Questions 3 and 4

Commentary on the Republic: Expiation of Passions and Descent of the Soul we continue reading the fifth essay, this time dealing with Proclus' views ok tragedy and his…

Commentary on the Republic: Mimesis and Variety we start our new reading course on Proclus' Commentary on Plato's Republic, specifically on the 5th and 6th essays. We start…

Elements of Theology: the final descent of the soul and end of the course we discuss: – why do Platonist physics? – ET 209-211: Proclus on the descent…

Elements of Theology: Introduction This is the first in a series of classes I am teaching on Proclus' Elements of Theology to @YitzchokLowy , who asks the best…

Elements of Theology: Multiplicity and Unity In this second class, we mostly talk about the argument for proposition 1 "Every multitude in some way participates unity", and also…

Elements of Theology: Unity Itself and the Henads In this class, I explain propositions 2-6 of the Elements of Theology, on Unity, how Unity is participated in, why…

Elements of Theology: Every Cause is Superior to its Effect In this class, I explain Proposition 7 of Proclus' Elements of Theology "Every productive cause of something else…

Elements of Theology: On the Good and the Hierarchy of Goods In this class, I explain Propositions 8-10 of Proclus' Elements of Theology. We discuss what does it…

Elements of Theology : The Identity of Unity, Goodness and Cause In this class, I explain Propositions 11-13 of Proclus' Elements of Theology. We discuss Proclus' argument for…

Elements of Theology The Good, Change, and Analogy In this class, we start the section 14-20, the third ascent to the first principle after 1-6 (first principle as…

Elements of Theology: Intentionality, Reflexivity and Change In this class, we discuss prop. 15-17 and the beginning of 20, focusing on Proclus`argument for why mind/soul (psyche) must be…

Elements of Theology: The Structure of Orders In this class, we discuss the end of prop. 20, on how Unity transcends Nous, and then go into props. 21-22…