--- product_id: 12174866 title: "The Elements of Theology: A Revised Text with Translation, Introduction, and Commentary (Clarendon Paperbacks)" price: "€ 64.87" currency: EUR in_stock: true reviews_count: 13 url: https://www.desertcart.ie/products/12174866-the-elements-of-theology-a-revised-text-with-translation-introduction store_origin: IE region: Ireland --- # The Elements of Theology: A Revised Text with Translation, Introduction, and Commentary (Clarendon Paperbacks) **Price:** € 64.87 **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** The Elements of Theology: A Revised Text with Translation, Introduction, and Commentary (Clarendon Paperbacks) - **How much does it cost?** € 64.87 with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.ie](https://www.desertcart.ie/products/12174866-the-elements-of-theology-a-revised-text-with-translation-introduction) ## Best For - Customers looking for quality international products ## Why This Product - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Description Proclus' Elements of Theology is a concise summa of the Neoplatonic system in its fully developed form; and for the student of late Greek thought, second in importance only to the Enneads of Plotinus. Dodds has provided a critical text based on a personal examination of some forty manuscripts, together with an English translation and a philosophical and linguistic commentary. This second edition includes an Appendix of Addenda et corrigenda and is still widely regarded and respected as the definitive edition of the text today. Review: Excellent - Dual page translation, introduction, extensive commentary and analysis, explanatory notes, and useful appendixes, etc. This book is basically everything you could ask for in a translation. The book itself, referring to Proclus, is historically valuable, and so intrinsically worth reading- whether I agree with him or not is as of yet unsure. The translation leaves the reader in an excellent position to understand this era of platonism though. Review: Excellent - This has been called by some the first systematic theology of pagan Neoplatonism whatever be the case this work is unlike Plotinus' Enneads and Iamblichus' De Mysteriis. This is a very deliberately structured book dealing succinctly with a subset topic and then moving to the next and repeating the process. Unlike other of Proclus' works there is not a single appeal to any authority or reference to past philosophers in this entire work, this is a strict attempt at an application of logic to prove the major tenants of Neoplatonism and of course Proclus' own personal views on the finer points as well as variations on the major ones. In this work we are given 211 propositions which are one by one 'proved' and I say that because E.R. Dodds said that sometimes the answers are more expositions than arguments - for me the line between exposition and argument in this book is easily blurred if it is there. While the following headings aren't in the text themselves E.R. Dodds categorises the propositions under the following headings as the book moves through the following subjects: A. Of the One and the Many B. Of Causes C. Of the Grades of Reality D. Of Procession and Reversion E. Of the Self-Constituted F. Of Time and Eternity G. Of the Grades of Causality H. Of Wholes and Parts I. Of the Relation of Causes to Effects J. Of Being, Limit, and Infinitude K. Supplementary Theorems on Causality L. Of Divine Henads, or Gods M. Of Intelligences N. Of Souls Of course the book as a piece of history is in itself important, as to its philosophical merit -regardless of historical worth- I must say that there is a lot I think beneficial in this book to consider, however from L onwards I found less of value philosophically yet of course this is all historically valuable and Proclus' propositions on the divine henads find their parallels in the famous Pseudo-Dionysius, who is often compared to Proclus. ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | Best Sellers Rank | #598,472 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #689 in American Fiction Anthologies #930 in Ancient Greek & Roman Philosophy #9,918 in Christian Theology (Books) | | Customer Reviews | 4.6 out of 5 stars 51 Reviews | ## Images ![The Elements of Theology: A Revised Text with Translation, Introduction, and Commentary (Clarendon Paperbacks) - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61VRb8hJSGL.jpg) ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Excellent *by N***N on May 11, 2026* Dual page translation, introduction, extensive commentary and analysis, explanatory notes, and useful appendixes, etc. This book is basically everything you could ask for in a translation. The book itself, referring to Proclus, is historically valuable, and so intrinsically worth reading- whether I agree with him or not is as of yet unsure. The translation leaves the reader in an excellent position to understand this era of platonism though. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Excellent *by S***N on September 5, 2011* This has been called by some the first systematic theology of pagan Neoplatonism whatever be the case this work is unlike Plotinus' Enneads and Iamblichus' De Mysteriis. This is a very deliberately structured book dealing succinctly with a subset topic and then moving to the next and repeating the process. Unlike other of Proclus' works there is not a single appeal to any authority or reference to past philosophers in this entire work, this is a strict attempt at an application of logic to prove the major tenants of Neoplatonism and of course Proclus' own personal views on the finer points as well as variations on the major ones. In this work we are given 211 propositions which are one by one 'proved' and I say that because E.R. Dodds said that sometimes the answers are more expositions than arguments - for me the line between exposition and argument in this book is easily blurred if it is there. While the following headings aren't in the text themselves E.R. Dodds categorises the propositions under the following headings as the book moves through the following subjects: A. Of the One and the Many B. Of Causes C. Of the Grades of Reality D. Of Procession and Reversion E. Of the Self-Constituted F. Of Time and Eternity G. Of the Grades of Causality H. Of Wholes and Parts I. Of the Relation of Causes to Effects J. Of Being, Limit, and Infinitude K. Supplementary Theorems on Causality L. Of Divine Henads, or Gods M. Of Intelligences N. Of Souls Of course the book as a piece of history is in itself important, as to its philosophical merit -regardless of historical worth- I must say that there is a lot I think beneficial in this book to consider, however from L onwards I found less of value philosophically yet of course this is all historically valuable and Proclus' propositions on the divine henads find their parallels in the famous Pseudo-Dionysius, who is often compared to Proclus. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A Thorough and Systematic Handbook on the Rubrics of Platonic Theoretic Science *by J***S on November 15, 2008* Proclus of Lysia (410-85 AD) stands at a privileged position in the vicissitudes of Platonic thought, as he looks back to a rich, diverse, yet continuous thread of philosophical culture, reaching back some eight hundred years. Born almost a generation after Theodosius' ban on the Greco-Roman cultus, Proclus still enjoyed, as yet, the Hellenism of the school-room, in which the old ideas still flourished and received contemporary colorations by outstanding intellects such as John Philoponus, Simplicius and Damascius Syrianus. Soon after, even the ideas themselves--the Hellenism still alive and well in books--were suppressed under the iron-thumb of Justinian. With that said, Proclus' Elements of Theology were fortunate enough to survive the ravages of time. In essence, the reader will be introduced to the most thorough and systematic catalogue of Platonic metaphysics extant. Proclus adduces the relation between cause and effect, oneness and multiplicity, incorporeal and corporeal entities, at all levels of being, in a clear, rational and orderly succession. Proclus also delineates the principles of eternity and time, soul and body, along with allusions to the intellective beings, the descent and ascent of rational souls and the correlative properties and dynamics of the One, Intellect and Soul. For anyone with a fairly good back ground in ancient philosophy, this book will be a metaphysical banquet. In light of the efforts of professor Dodds--the text, his running commentary, lucid translation and scholarly introductory material--this work is a desideratum. The `Elements'