Proclus: Commentary on Plato's Timaeus: Volume 4, Book 3, Part 2, Proclus on the World Soul Commentary on Plato's Timaeus

In the present volume Proclus describes the 'creation' of the soul that animates the entire universe. This is not a literal creation, for Proclus argues that Plato means only to convey the eternal dependence of the World Soul upon higher causes. In his exegesis of Plato's text, Proclus addresses a range of issues in Pythagorean harmonic theory, as well as questions about the way in which the World Soul knows both forms and the visible reality that comprises its body. This part of Proclus' Commentary is particularly responsive to the interpretive tradition that precedes it. As a result, this volume is especially significant for the study of the Platonic tradition from the earliest commentators onwards.

Acknowledgements; Notes on the translation; Introduction to Book 3, Part II; The background to Proclus' commentary on the world soul in Timaeus; The structure of Proclus' commentary; The contributions of Proclus' commentary; Conclusion; On the Timaeus of Plato: Book 3, Part II; Analytical table of contents; Translation; References; English-Greek glossary; Greek word index; General index.

Dirk Baltzly is Professor of Philosophy at the University of Tasmania. He was educated at Ohio State University and has worked previously at King's College London and Monash University, Victoria. He has published widely on ancient Greek philosophy, with particular emphasis on late antique Platonism. He is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Humanities.