Proclus and the Sciences. Approaches to Understanding the Divine

The volume Proclus and the Sciences investigates what Proclus (410- 485 CE), one of the most influential late antique Platonists, understood by science and how he integrated it, together with theology, into a unified philosophical system. Divided into three sections, the book explores: the status and methodology of the mathematical sciences, especially astronomy, harmonics, and arithmetic; the role of mathematics as a bridge to theology, with particular attention to divine orders and analogical reasoning; and the place of other sciences, such as potamology, in Proclus’ philosophy. The essays analyse Proclus’ exegetical practices, showing how he uses mathematical reasoning and scientific methods to structure theology in a demonstrative and systematic way. They also address a key question: how can mathematics serve not only as an autonomous discipline but also as a tool for understanding the divine and metaphysical reality? A philological appendix examines the transmission of Proclean texts in Byzantium. Written in English, French, and Italian, the volume is a valuable resource for scholars and students of ancient philosophy and classics. It provides new insights into Neoplatonism and Proclean thought, revealing the deep connections between rational inquiry, metaphysics, and theology.