Reading Proclus and the Book of Causes: 2. Translations and Acculturations edited by Dragos Calma

Michele Abbate

doi:10.33137/aestimatio.v3i1.41824

Authors

Michele Abbate University of Salerno

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.33137/aestimatio.v3i1.41824

Keywords:

Neoplatonism, Proclus, First Cause, Elements of Theology, Book of Causes

Abstract

The reception of Proclus’ Elements of Theology and the Book of Causes is certainly one of the most significant and complex themes for understanding the influence of Neoplatonic thought from the sixth century to the modern age. This volume is the second of three edited by Dragos Calma, in which the proceedings of the Parisian conference (12–13 February 2016) dedicated to the reception of the Elements of Theology and the Book of Causes are published. It gathers 18 contributions (12 in English, 5 in French, and 1 in German) by various scholars who have addressed the topic in question by focusing on specific aspects of the reception of these two texts between the sixth and 16th centuries in very different periods and cultural contexts. For this reason, the weighty volume is divided into five sections according to the cultural and geographical areas examined:
(1) Byzantium,
(2) The Caucasus,
(3) The Lands of Islam,
(4) The Latin West, and
(5) The Hebrew Tradition.
In view of the breadth and richness of the themes dealt with, I will limit myself to some brief and summary remarks on the main topics addressed in each essay.

Author Biography

Michele Abbate, University of Salerno

Michele Abbate teaches the history of ancient philosophy and the history of late ancient thought at the University of Salerno. From 2005 to 2007 he was “Humboldt Stipendiat” at the University of Würzburg. His research and publications focus on Presocratic thought and on the Platonic and Neoplatonic tradition, with particular attention to ontological conceptions and linguistic theories developed within ancient and late ancient philosophical thinking.