A NEW TESTIMONIUM FOR NUMENIUS: PROCLUS ON THE ORIGIN OF EVIL.
- Resource Type
- Article
- Authors
- Abdavi Azar, Kasra
- Source
- Classical Quarterly. May2023, Vol. 73 Issue 1, p484-488. 5p.
- Subject
- *GOOD & evil
*PORPHYRY
*SOUL
*PLATONISTS
- Language
- ISSN
- 0009-8388
In the course of examining the origin of evil in the De malorum subsistentia , Proclus reproduces a position that considers the maleficent (world-)soul as cause of evil. The same entity is held to co-govern the material realm alongside the beneficent world-soul. While scholarship tends to associate the testimonium with Plutarch (and Atticus), this survey shows why Numenius of Apamea is a much more probable candidate. The discussion concludes with further proposals for a new edition of Numenius, including possible traces of Numenius in Iamblichus' On Soul and Porphyry's On the Faculties of Soul. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]