PROCLUS, THE PLATONIC SUCCESSOR

odies at the same time good ? May we not
say, that this to the whole is according to nature
a , but to the part is praeternatural. Evil,
however, is in a greater degree good to the
whole than to the part, because it contributes
naturally to the universe; but so far as it is
distributed into parts, it has from thence
a For "secundum rationem" here in Morbeka, it is
evidently necessary from what follows to read
secundum naturam.
[171] the praeternatural. But the evil which is
in bodies is twofold, one kind existing as
deformity, but another as disease. I call,
however, the deformity of body everything
which is not a praeternatural disease of it. For
monsters are the turpitudes of nature. And in
nature, considered as a whole, deformity
subsists naturally a , because in this it is reason
[i. e. a producing principle] and form; but in a
partial nature, deformity is one reason [or
form], and that which is contrary to this, is to
such a nature praeternatural. But in nature as a
whole, all producing principles and all forms
subsist naturally. And sometimes, indeed, from
one species or form, that which is generated is
one thing; for the form of man in nature may be
said to generate man in a more principal
manner than anything else. But sometimes
many things are generated from one form; for
there is one productive principle of figure in
nature, but many different kinds of figures
proceed from it. And sometimes, from many
forms one thing is produced; such as are the
mixtures of species about matter, that appear to
be monsters to an individual nature, which
desires to obtain, and subsists according to one
form. Lastly, sometimes many things [of the
same species] proceed from many forms; for in
many such things there is both equality and
inequality. All species or forms, therefore, are
according to