Interpreting Proclus
From Antiquity to the Renaissance

Stephen Gersch charts the influence of the late Greek philosopher Proclus from his own lifetime down to the Renaissance (500–1600 CE).

Stephen Gersh (Edited by)

9780521198493, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 15 September 2014

417 pages
23.5 x 16.8 x 2.7 cm, 0.74 kg

'This collective effort succeeds in making the strongest possible case for the grand narrative of over one thousand years of Proclus's influence in the West and East; and many of the highlighted essays are significant contributions to the scholarly literature in their own fields.' Daniel O'Connell, Journal of the History of Philosophy

This is the first book to provide an account of the influence of Proclus, a member of the Athenian Neoplatonic School, during more than one thousand years of European history (c.500–1600). Proclus was the most important philosopher of late antiquity, a dominant (albeit controversial) voice in Byzantine thought, the second most influential Greek philosopher in the later western Middle Ages (after Aristotle), and a major figure (together with Plotinus) in the revival of Greek philosophy in the Renaissance. Proclus was also intensively studied in the Islamic world of the Middle Ages and was a major influence on the thought of medieval Georgia. The volume begins with a substantial essay by the editor summarizing the entire history of Proclus' reception. This is followed by the essays of more than a dozen of the world's leading authorities in the various specific areas covered.

One thousand years of Proclus: an introduction to his reception Stephen Gersh
1. Proclus' life, works, and education of the soul Lucas Siorvanes
2. Proclus as exegete Anne Sheppard
3. Proclus as theologian Stephen Gersh
4. 'Dionysius the Areopagite' John M. Dillon
5. The Book of Causes Cristina d'Ancona
6. Michael Psellos Dominic J. O'Meara
7. Eleventh- to twelfth-century Byzantium Michele Trizio
8. Ioane Petritsi Lela Alexidze
9. William of Moerbeke, translator of Proclus Carlos Steel
10. The University of Paris in the thirteenth century Pasquale Porro
11. Dietrich of Freiberg and Berthold of Moosburg Markus Führer and Stephen Gersh
12. Nicholas of Cusa Stephen Gersh
13. Marsilio Ficino Michael J. B. Allen
14. Francesco Patrizi da Cherso Thomas Leinkauf.

Subject Areas: Western philosophy: Medieval & Renaissance, c 500 to c 1600 [HPCB], Western philosophy: Ancient, to c 500 [HPCA], History of Western philosophy [HPC]