Ocellus Lucanus. On the Nature of the Universe. Taurus, the Platonic Philosoher, On the Eternity of the World. Julius Firmicus Maternus Of the Thema ... of the Several Mundane Periods is Given. Se

by Ocellus Lucanus, Taurus Berytius, Proclus

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118 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1831

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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/...