The Structure of Nous-Hypostasis in Proclus’ Teologia platonica V

Marcin Komorowski

The purpose of this article is to present the concept of Nous  in Proclus’s Teologia platonica V. It was noted that this philosopher distinguishes the divine imparticipable  Nous  and the nous  within us. The former is an unmoved source of movement of the Soul which participates in it. Furthermore, this  Nous is the only one. It is the efficient and final cause of all order and the object of desire for all beings and things. Proclus also distinguishes between the Nous, who is Father and Demiurge, and numerous participable minds. He distinguishes between a noetic (intelligible) Nous and a noeric (intelligent/intellectual), that is an intellective one, which make up the structure of the one Nous  of the Demiurge. It is rather passive (the noetic), on the one hand, and active (intellective), actualizing, which is one that operates on its noetic content, on the other. The Nous is also characterized by two sorts of activity – the external and internal ones. The latter brings the Nous out of the potential state and enables it to think, which has the character of intellectual seeing and contemplating. The Nous has a mythological name and functions in the writings of Proclus under the name of Zeus.

DOI: 10.37240/AHFiMS.2020.65.3ac

65-komorowski

Keywords: neoplatonism • Proclus · Theologia platonica · Nous · Demiurge · Plato’s Timaeus