The Intellectual Nature of the Principle according to Berthold of Moosburg

Abstract

Berthold of Moosburg’s Expositio Procli is considered so far the most important testimony of the interest on Proclus’ thought during the 13th and 14th centuries in the Latin West. Now, Berthold brings in to the Latin Tradition some pieces of doctrine from Pagan Neoplatonism that conflict with basic tenets established by the philosophical milieu within which he writes. The most important has to do with the trascendence of the Principle. According to Berthold, the prime unum, as the henads, is beyond the intellectual realm. However, there are certain passages of the Expositio where Berthold’s attitude does not seem that bold as it seems to be when compared with his inmmediate tradition. Thus, Berthod writes about the natura intellectualis of the Principle. And in this sense, he includes the absolute One among those principles that are per se subsistentes (i.e. authypóstata) and indicates that its processus originalis is the Intratrinitarian process.