Ocellus Lucanus on the Nature of the Universe

by Thomas Taylor (Translator)

Ocellus Lucanus on the Nature of the Universe is a book written by Thomas Taylor. It is a translation of the ancient Greek text by Ocellus Lucanus, a student of Pythagoras, who lived in the 5th century BCE. The book discusses the nature of the universe, including its creation, structure, and purpose. Ocellus Lucanus argues that the universe is eternal and infinite, and that it is composed of various elements that are constantly in motion. He also discusses the role of the gods in the universe, and how they are responsible for maintaining its order and harmony. The book is a fascinating exploration of ancient Greek philosophy and cosmology, and provides valuable insights into the way that ancient Greeks viewed the world around them. Thomas Taylor's translation is highly regarded for its accuracy and clarity, and makes this important text accessible to a wider audience.1831. Also Taurus, the Platonic Philosopher, on the eternity of the world; Julius Firmicus Maternus of the Thema Mundi, in which the positions of the stars at the commencement of several mundane periods is given; select theorems on the perpetuity of time by Proclus; all translated from the originals. These tracts will be perused with considerable interest by every English reader who is a lover of ancient lore. Due to the age of the facsimile we reproduced, some pages are spotty or faded.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.

110 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1831

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author with this name in the Goodreads database

Thomas Taylor was an English translator and Neoplatonist, the first to translate into English the complete works of Aristotle and of Plato, as well as the Orphic fragments. He published prolifically for over 50 years.

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This collection of translations and notes by Thomas Taylor includes the full text of On the Nature of the Universe by Ocellus Lucanus as well as extracts from On the Eternity of the World by Taurus the Platonic Philosopher, Of the Thema Mundi by Julius Firmicus Maternus, Select Theorems of the Perpetuity of Time by Proclus and copious notes from Thomas Taylor with quotes from further ancient philosophers.

The focus is on the eternal question of whether the world and the universe has been created, or if it was always existing.

For science, truly so called, is, as Aristotle accurately defines it to be, the knowledge of things eternal, and which have a necessary existence. Hence it has for its basis universals, and not particulars; since the former are definite, immutable, and real; but the latter are indefinite, are so incessantly changing, that they are not for a moment the same, and are so destitute of reality, that, in the language of the great Plotinus, they may be said to be "shadows falling upon shadow, like images in water, or in a mirror, or a dream."

Besides giving the answer to the eternal question, the cosmology leading to hot/cold/dry/moist and fire/air/water/earth is explained.

In that part of the world, however, in which nature and generation predominate, it is necessary that the three following things should be present. In the first place, the body which yields to the touch, and which is the subject of all generated natures. [...] Hence matter (or a universal recipient) is necessary to the existence of generation.
The second thing which is necessary, is the existence of contrarieties, in order that mutations and changes in quality may be effected, matter for this purpose receiving passive qualities, and an aptitude to the participation of forms. [...] these powers are the hot and the cold, the dry and the moist.
Essences rank in the third place; and these are fire and water, air and earth, of which the hot and the cold, the dry and the moist, are powers.

N.B. According to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ocellus..., a pseudepigraphic work, "On the Nature of the Universe", was attributed to him, and the citation of its author nowadays appears as Pseudo-Ocellus Lucanus. Make of that what you will, Thomas Taylor makes a good case for the work to be authentic; either which way, the text is interesting in its own right.

My clippings: https://www.evernote.com/shard/s2/sh/...