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readoldthings Of all things which are multiplied in progression the first are more perfect than the second, the second than those posterior to them, and after the same manner successively.
Another very straightforward proposition. Of the things which proceed from their first causes into multiplication, the first are the most perfect. The further one proceeds from the First Cause itself, the more things are multiplied and the less perfect or complete they are. This is easy to understand if we visualize the universe as a pyramid, beginning in a single point, the One, and extending into a line of infinite extension, the Chaos at the bottom of things. In fact the One is not even a point, because then it would not be simply One, and the Chaos is not a line, because a line is one thing. At the end of things, there is no oneness, no unity, no identity, only fragments of fragments, infinitely divided.
As Proposition 36 deals with Progression, Proposition 37 deals with Conversion. These two mirror each other, so let's have Proposition 37 now:
COMMENTARY
In the previous Proposition, Proclus described the Universe from the top down; now he proceeds, as it were, from the bottom up. The last of things, as we saw, is the most imperfect. Taking it as the first of things converted, we see that the first in the series is the least perfect. Simple enough, yes?
For if progressions separate productions from their causes, and there are diminutions of things secondary with respect to those which are first, it follows that first natures in proceeding are more conjoined with their causes, being as it were germinations from them. But secondary natures are more remote from their causes, and in a similar manner those which are successive. Things, however, which are nearer and more allied to their causes are more perfect. For causes are more perfect than things caused. But things which are more remote are more imperfect, because they are dissimilar to their causes.
COMMENTARYAnother very straightforward proposition. Of the things which proceed from their first causes into multiplication, the first are the most perfect. The further one proceeds from the First Cause itself, the more things are multiplied and the less perfect or complete they are. This is easy to understand if we visualize the universe as a pyramid, beginning in a single point, the One, and extending into a line of infinite extension, the Chaos at the bottom of things. In fact the One is not even a point, because then it would not be simply One, and the Chaos is not a line, because a line is one thing. At the end of things, there is no oneness, no unity, no identity, only fragments of fragments, infinitely divided.
As Proposition 36 deals with Progression, Proposition 37 deals with Conversion. These two mirror each other, so let's have Proposition 37 now:
Of all things which subsist according to conversion, the first are more imperfect than the second, and the second, than those that follow; but the last are the most perfect.
For if conversions are effected in a circle, and conversion or return is to that from which progression is derived, but progression is from that which is most perfect, hence conversion tends to the most perfect. And if conversion first begins from that in which progression terminates, but progression terminates in that which is most imperfect, conversion will begin from the most imperfect. Hence in things which subsist according to conversion, the most imperfect are the first, but the most perfect are the last.
COMMENTARY
In the previous Proposition, Proclus described the Universe from the top down; now he proceeds, as it were, from the bottom up. The last of things, as we saw, is the most imperfect. Taking it as the first of things converted, we see that the first in the series is the least perfect. Simple enough, yes?
