Taylor - Theoretic Arithmetic.pdf - Platonic Philosophy

XIV
INTRODUCTION
principles existing in these. And to the one sight, but to the
other hearing is the organ of recollection. To him, therefore,
who is naturally a philosopher, whence, and by what means is
the recollection of intellectual knowledge, and the excitation
to real being and truth? For this character also, on account of
its imperfection, requires a proper principle; since physical
virtue is alloted an imperfect eye, and imperfect manners. He
therefore, who is naturally a philosopher, is excited indeed
from himself, and surveys with astonishment real being.
Hence, says Plotinus, he must be disciplined in the mathematical
sciences, in order that he may be accustomed to an incorporeal
nature, and led to the contemplation of the principles of
all things. From these things, therefore, it is evident that the
mathematics are of the greatest utility to philosophy.
It is necessary, however, to be more explicit, and to enumerate
the several particulars to which they contribute, and evince
that they prepare us for the intellectual apprehensions of theology.
For whatever to imperfect natures appears difficult and
arduous in the truth, pertaining to divinity, these the mathematical
sciences render through images credible, manifest, and
irreprehensible. For in numbers they exhibit the representations
of superessential peculiarities, and unfold in the proper
objects of the reasoning part of our nature, the powers of intellectual
figures. Hence Plato teaches us many admirable
theological dogmas, through mathematical froms; and the
philosophy of the Pythagoreans, employing these as veils, conceals
through them the mystic tradition of divine dogmas. For
such is the whole of the Sacred Discourse,* what is said by
Philolaus in his Bacchics, and the whole method of the Pytha-
Concerning this valuable work entitled rgp0S loyo< see the Bibliotheca Gr.
of Fabricius, vol. I. p. 118 and 462. In the commentary also of Syrianus on
Aristotle's Metaphysics, p. 7, 71, 83, and 108, the reader will find some curious
extracts from this celebrated work; particularly in p. 83, Syrianus informs ~u,
"that he who consults this work, will find all the orders both of monads and numbus,
without neglecting one, fully celebrated."