The Theology of Arithmetic [Paperback]

Iambilichus (Author), Robin Waterfield (Translator)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 1988

Attributed to Iamblichus (4th cent. AD), The Theology of Arithmetic is about the mystical, mathmatical and cosmological symbolism of the first ten numbers. Its is the longest work on number symbolism to survive from the ancient world, and Robin Waterfield's careful translation contains helpful footnotes, an extensive glossary, bibliography, and foreword by Keith Critchlow. Never before translated from ancient Greek, this important sourcework is indispensable for anyone intereted in Pythagorean though, Neoplatonism, or the symbolism of Numbers.

Editorial Reviews

Language Notes

Text: English, Greek (translation) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 136 pages
• Publisher: Red Wheel / Weiser (November 1, 1988)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0933999720
• ISBN-13: 978-0933999725
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #99,964 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #23 in Books > Religion & Spirituality > New Age > Divination > Numerology

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

52 of 52 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lot's of Little Treasures, August 22, 2001

By 

Ryan Morrison (SF, CA, US) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Theology of Arithmetic (Paperback)

I'm not sure if the books' material or the editor's notes are more useful. The book itself is attributed to Iamblichus but it is not really known whether he actually wrote this particular text. The author does note that the book seems to be more of a compilation of material by Anatonlius and Nicomachus. I actually wondered at many points if this text was written by a student (i.e. student notes from lectures at Plato's academy). None-the-less if you are looking for materials on Pythagorean philosophy, this book is for you. It covers the symbolism attributed to the first ten numbers (the monad through the decad) as well as touching on subjects like Plato's lambda and the Geometric, Arithmetic and Harmonic means. If you have the Pythagorean Sourcebook by Guthrie or Jesus Christ, Sun of God by Fidieler this book will complement those two works nicely (esp. Appendix II of the former). Also, Rene Schwaller's Study of Numbers seems to derive a lot of inspiration from either this text or one like it. Keith Critchlow, who wrote Islamic Patterns, introduces this book and extrapolates on Plato's Lambda in a very interesting way. Also the glossary in the back of this book, explaining Platonic/Pythagorean notions of numbers (perfect, over-perfect, even-odd, etc.) was enlightening. With so many gems of Pythagorean knowledge in such a small space (i.e. less than a hundred pages) - the book definately deserves 5 stars.

35 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars You cannot IMAGINE how excellent this book is. I'm stunned, August 25, 2005

By 

Denise Anderson (lexington, Ky.) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Theology of Arithmetic (Paperback)

When I bought this book, I presumed I was buying a remotely dry and dull book of late Neoplatonic praddle on numbers. However it turns out this book is a copy of a copy of a copy by Iambblichus all the way back to Pythagoras himself (although this isn't proven).

The content of this book is an ABSOLUTE MUST TOOL in the comprehension of Plato, and , my favorite, Plotinus, the logical and numerical philosophical Emanation model (of Plato and Neoplatonists) as expressed in this book is mind blowing. I myself find that 99.9% of the many 1000s of books I've bought get a quick glance and are ditched on the shelf SOON afterwards. I've read the "Theology of Arithmetic" now more than 8 times!

I forward, and rightly so, that this book is in fact an INDESPENSIBLE tool to grasping the logical and numerical ontological expression-model of Pythagoras and Plato/Plotinus in their philosophy of Emanation and necessity in their illuminating the werks (eklampsis/emanation) of the One, the Divine. What's better, is the pithiness of this book is astounding, with main content around 120 pages, its incredibly condensed and packed with revelations and connections leading to insights into Plato's ontology "by" numbers that I never could have made without THIS book.

As per Plotinus in 5.1.1 and his "mystery" world TOLMA as the primordial cause of the "souls descent", I found the answer of this 1500 year-old philosophical-contention mystery SOLVED by means of this very book, "Theology of Arithmetic"

Personally, I find the subtitle of this book should be: "THE KEY TO UNDERSTANDING THE NUMBER ONTOLOGY OF ALL OF PYTHAGOREANISM, PLATONISM AND NEOPLATONISM".

My copy of this book is so underlined and highlighted, I'm buying another copy of it.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Its as good as they say.., December 31, 2009

By 

tangent (Houston, TX United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Theology of Arithmetic (Paperback)

This is a translation of Iamblichus lecture notes on the foundational symbolism of the numbers, Iamblichus was highly inspired by the work of Nichomachus and includes numerous pieces quoted from his lost work 'Theology of Arithmetic' (hence the title of this book).

The fact that this translation is of lecture notes means it is relatively concise and to the point, which I personally liked. As other reviewers have noted, the commentary by Robin Waterfield is both extensive and insightful, it definitely makes the material much easier to digest. Highly recommended.

If you like this, I also recommend Nichomachus 'Manual of Harmonics' which discusses similar themes