
On the Existence of Evils
On the Existence of Evils
Diadochus Proclus(Author)
Bristol Classical Press
Published on 24. April 2003
Book
Hardback
256 pages
978-0-7156-3198-0 (ISBN)
Description
Proclus' "On the Existence of Evils" is not a commentary, but helps to compensate for the dearth of Neoplatonist ethical commentaries. The central question addressed in the work is: how can there be evil in a providential world? Neoplatonists agree that it cannot be caused by higher and worthier beings. Plotinus had said that evil is matter, which, unlike Aristotle, he collapsed into mere privation or lack, thus reducing its reality. He also protected higher causes from responsibility by saying that evil may result from a combination of goods. Proclus objects: evil is real, and not a privation. Rather, it is a parasite feeding off good. Parasites have no proper cause, and higher beings are thus vindicated as being the causes only of the good off which evil feeds.
More details
Series
Edition
New edition
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
Edition type
New edition
Dimensions
Height: 240 mm
Width: 161 mm
Thickness: 14 mm
Weight
426 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-7156-3198-0 (9780715631980)
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Schweitzer Classification
Persons
Jan Opsomer is Assistant Professor of Philosophy, University of South Carolina, USA. Carlos Steel is Professor of Philosophy, Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium and was for 10 years President of the Higher Institute of Philosophy at Leuven
Author
Editor
Translation
Content
Preface
Introduction
Textual Emendations
TRANSLATION
Notes
Bibliography English-Greek
Glossary Greek-English Index
Index of Passages Cited
Subject
Index