Multiplicity

Use in the book

Aristoxenus defines number as a multitude composed of monads. Moderatus describes its progression from a monad and its return toward one through subtraction. The argument about intelligibles connects their plurality with plurality in intellect and therefore places the One before intellect. A numbered collection and a plurality within intellectual reality are different applications of the relation between one and many.

Places to read

1. Arith.6A multitude of monads constitutes number.
2. Arith.8Plurality increases from and returns toward the monad.
3. I.48.5.8The many intelligibles bear on the priority of the One.

Translation in this edition

“Multitude” follows the counting context; “multiplicity” or “the many” clarifies the philosophical contrast. Priority is not automatically a temporal sequence.