Proclus and the Problem of Chorismos

Abstract

The separation between ideas and particulars, known as KHORISMOS, leads to some ontological as well as epistemological problems for Plato. On the supposition that Ideas and particulars are separated, we’ll face with a problem in ontology that how is it possible that Ideas be the cause of particulars which have no link with each other. In epistemology this question has to be replied that if the Ideas have no link with particulars, how is it possible to know Ideas through particulars? Plato and the following philosophers, applying their own methods and principles, suggest different solutions. To solve the problem, Proclus makes use of two principles which could be designated as “middle term” and “all in all but appropriately”, both of them have been preceded by the previous philosophers and even Plato, but he was the first who began to use them so vastly and explained them. According to the first principle, there are mediators between Ideas and particulars which transfer the emanation of Ideas to particulars and also prepares the possibility of knowing the former through the latter. According to the second principle, a form of the Idea corporifies in particulars and at the same time, particulars exist potentially in the transcendant Idea.