Theophrastus · Fragments §34.1

Plato on the Oneness of the Universe and Providence

Passage 24 of 196 · Greek

Summary

A passage noting that Theophrastus testifies to and commends Plato's thorough use of the cause deriving from providence to prove that the universe is one.

§34.1Fr. 34 Ἢ γὰρ μόνος ἢ μάλιστα Πλάτων τῇ ἀπὸ τοῦ προνοοῦντος αἰτίᾳ (ut ἕνα εἶναι τὸν κόσμον probaret) κατεχρήσατο;

Fr. 34 For did Plato, either alone or especially, make full use of the cause deriving from the providing agent (ut ἕνα εἶναι τὸν κόσμον probaret)?

φησὶν ὁ Θ. τοῦτό γε καλῶς αὐτῷ μαρτυρῶν.

So says Theophrastus, testifying well to him on this point at least.

Notes

Fr. 34κατεχρήσατο — Third-person singular aorist of the verb καταχράομαι. Although this verb often means 'to misuse' or 'to abuse', here it is interpreted in a positive or neutral sense as 'to make full use of' or 'to employ thoroughly' regarding teleological causes.
Fr. 34ut ἕνα εἶναι τὸν κόσμον probaret — A Latin purpose clause (ut + imperfect subjunctive probaret) interpolated into the Greek text. Inside it, the Greek accusative-with-infinitve clause ἕνα εἶναι τὸν κόσμον ('that the world is one') is embedded as the direct object of probaret.
Fr. 34τοῦτό γε καλῶς αὐτῷ μαρτυρῶν — The dative pronoun αὐτῷ refers to Plato. It indicates that Theophrastus 'testifies well to him' or supports him 'on this point at least' (τοῦτό γε) regarding his teleological approach.

Cite this passage

Theophrastus, Fragments §34.1. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0093.tlg010x09.humanitext-grc1:34.1

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