In his work on sense perception, aristotle discusses the material conditions of perception, starting with the sense organs and moving to the material basis of color, flavor, and odor. Syrianus attacked aristotle in his commentary on books and 14 of the metaphysics, just as his pupil proclus was to do later in his commentaries on plato. On aristotle metaphysics 4 ancient commentators on. His writings cover many subjects including physics, biology. Taught by plato, he was the founder of the lyceum, the peripatetic school of philosophy, and the aristotelian tradition. Book 5 of the metaphysics is important because it consists of definitions of the main uses of key terms in aristotles philosophy, and it is extremely valuable to have a commentary on this important text by alexander of aphrodisias, the leading commentator of. Pdf alexander of aphrodisias on aristotles theory of. Alexander of aphrodisias and his doctrine of the soul. Alexander of aphrodisias commentaries on aristotles organon are valuable sources for both stoic and early peripatetic logic, and have often been used as such in particular for early. Greek philosophy had no precise term for free will as did latin.
He continued the tradition of writing close commentaries on aristotles work established in the first century bce by andronicus of rhodes, the editor of aristotles esoteric writings, which were. The metaphysics from aristotle to alexander of aphrodisias silvia fazzo in this paper i will raise a number of questions and doubts regarding the history of the metaphysics before alexander. Alexander of aphrodisias and the text of aristotles. Alexander of aphrodisias stanford encyclopedia of philosophy. Pdf alexander of aphrodisias on aristotles theory of the. Alexander of aphrodisias on aristotle s metaphysics 5, w. Alexander of aphrodisias, commentary on the metaphysics, ed.
Alexander of aphrodisias s commentary about ad 200 is the earliest extant commentary on aristotle s metaphysics and the most important indirect witness to the metaphysics text. On aristotles metaphysics 4 ancient commentators on. Buy alexander of aphrodisias on aristotle metaphysics vol 4 ancient commentators on aristotle book online at best prices in india on. He was a native of aphrodisias in caria, and lived and taught in athens at the beginning of the 3rd century, where he held a position as head of the peripatetic school.
Alexander of aphrodisias s most popular book is on aristotles metaphysics. Mirjam kotwicks study is a systematic investigation into the version of the metaphysics that alexander used when writing his commentary, and into the various ways his. Mirjam kotwicks study is a systematic investigation into the version of the metaphysics that alexander used when writing his commentary, and. On aristotle metaphysics 4 ancient commentators on aristotle 9781780934471. There has been some discussion about syrianus originality because we possess a commentary of books 614 of aristotles metaphysics that claims to be by the hand of alexander of aphrodisias and which shares numerous passages with syrianus work concordances in luna and dillonomeara. In fact, alexander uses some lost aristotelian books, especially a work on the good, from which we learn that platos metaphysics is adialectical metaphysics, founded on an original opposition of two principles that shapes the whole realitythese principles. The aristotle metaphysics of alexander of aphrodisias 20182019 organisers.
Alexander of aphrodisias is the only greek commentator on metaphysics of aristotle who is not connected with the neoplatonic school. Alexander of aphrodisias, the most famous commentator on aristotle, wrote 500 years after aristotles death, at a time when aristotle and plato were rather forgotten minor philosophers in the age of stoics, epicureans, and skeptics. Book 5 of the metaphysics is important because it consists of definitions of the main uses of key terms in aristotle s philosophy, and it is extremely valuable to have a commentary on this important text by alexander of aphrodisias, the leading commentator of his school. Plaquette with aristotle and alexander of aphrodisias about 150025 ulocrino active about 150025 the renaissance interest in greek philosophy is shown in this image of aristotle right and alexander of aphrodisias left. Buy alexander of aphrodisias on aristotle metaphysics vol 4. Book 5 of the metaphysics is important because it consists of definitions of the main uses of key terms in aristotles philosophy, and it is extremely valuable to have a commentary on this important text by alexander of aphrodisias, the leading. Alexander of aphrodisias on aristotle s prior analytics 1. Kotwicks dense, highly technical bookthe revised version of her doctoral dissertationis an exhaustive philological investigation into all preserved parts of alexander of aphrodisias commentary on the metaphysics as a witness to the transmission and textual history of this work of aristotles in antiquity. Alexander was perhaps the most famous commentator on aristotle s work in ancient times.
Alexander of aphrodisias on aristotles prior analytics 1. Metaphysics ta meta ta phusika means the things after the physical things and may point to the position of the. This study is the first booklength examination of a commentary as a witness to an ancient philosophical text. By purchasing books through this website, you support our nonprofit organization. Alexander of aphrodisias on aristotles metaphysics 5, w. Alexander of aphrodisias on aristotles meteorology 4, e. Books by alexander of aphrodisias author of on aristotles. The title is not by aristotle and is due to a hellenistic editor, traditionally identified with andronicus of rhodes 1st century bce. Alexander of aphrodisias has 44 books on goodreads with 3 ratings.
By purchasing books through this website, you support our nonprofit. Ad 200 on the first book of aristotles metaphysics. Alexander addresses a number of questions drawn from a range of topics in aristotle s works. Dec 03, 2019 author of quaestiones, alexandri aphrodisiensis praeter commentaria scripta minora, in aristotelis metaphysica commentaria, on aristotle s on coming to be and perishing 2. Fazzo, the metaphysics front aristotle to alexander of aphrodisias, bulletin of the institute of classical studies. Aristotle was born at stagira, in macedonia, in 384 b. Alexander of aphrodisias on aristotle s prior analytics i.
The commentary on book 1 has the further interest that over half of it is devoted to aristotle s discussion of plato. Alexander of aphrodisias and the text of aristotles metaphysics book. Alexander of aphrodisias alexander was a peripatetic philosopher and commentator, active in the late second and early third century ce. The commentary on book 1 has the further interest that over half of it is devoted to aristotles. Alexander of aphrodisias, who was teaching at athens in 200 ce, was recognized for centuries as the most authoritative exponent of aristotle. At the age of 17, he went to athens to study at platos academy, where he remained for about 20 years, as a student and then as a teacher. Syrianus, originally from alexandria, moved to athens and became the head of the academy there after the death of plutarch of athens. Alexander of aphrodisias was the greatest exponent of aristotelianism after aristotle, and his commentary on metaphysics 15 is the most. In fact, alexander uses some lost aristotelian books, especially a work on the good, from which we learn that platos metaphysics is adialectical metaphysics, founded on an original opposition of two principles that shapes the whole realitythese.
In metaphysics 4 aristotle discusses the nature of metaphysics, the basic laws of logic, the falsity of subjectivism and the different types of ambiguity. Sciences, philosophie, histoire umr 7219, laboratoire. Apr 10, 2014 in metaphysics 4 aristotle discusses the nature of metaphysics, the basic laws of logic, the falsity of subjectivism and the different types of ambiguity. Alexander of aphrodisias on aristotles prior analytics i. On aristotles metaphysics by alexander of aphrodisias. His extant commentaries are on prior analytics book 1, topics, meteorology, sense and sensibilia, and metaphysics books 15. Alexander addresses a number of questions drawn from a range of topics in aristotles works. Alexander of aphrodisias on aristotles theory of the stoic indemonstrables. Alexander of aphrodisias on aristotle s theory of the stoic indemonstrables. This is because in metaphysics 14, aristotle himself was being thoroughly polemical towards platonism, in particular against the academic doctrine of formnumbers and the whole concept. Syrianus attacked aristotle in his commentary on books and 14 of the metaphysics, just as his pupil proclus was to. Alexander of aphrodisiass commentary on aristotles metaphysics is an important testimony to understand platos philosophy.
Alexander of aphrodisias was the greatest exponent of aristotelianism after aristotle, and his commentary on metaphysics 15 is the most substantial commentary on the metaphysics to have survived from antiquity. Aristotle was a systematic writer who often crossreferred to the definitions of terms given elsewhere in his work. The full, clear commentary of alexander of aphrodisias on this important book is here translated into english by arthur madigan. Alexander of aphrodisias greek philosopher britannica.
His pythagorean account of hues as a ratio of dark to light was enthusiastically endorsed by goethe against newton as being true to the painters experience. Ad 200 was a peripatetic philosopher and the most celebrated of the ancient greek commentators on the writings of aristotle. Aristotles metaphysics 2 consists of two chapters on methodology flanking an important discussion of the impossibility of infinite causal chains. Syrianus on aristotle metaphysics 14 new books in politics.
I will begin with aristotle himself, before discussing those figures whose part in that history appears to be a matter of fact rather than a mere hypothesis. The subject is vital for scientific method and for theological belief in a first cause and in a beginning of the universe. On aristotles metaphysics 5 ancient commentators on. Mar 19, 2020 plaquette with aristotle and alexander of aphrodisias about 150025 ulocrino active about 150025 the renaissance interest in greek philosophy is shown in this image of aristotle right and alexander of aphrodisias left.
On aristotles metaphysics 5 ancient commentators on aristotle alexander of aphrodisias download bok. He defended a view of moral responsibility we would call libertarianism today. Apr 10, 2014 aristotle was a systematic writer who often crossreferred to the definitions of terms given elsewhere in his work. On aristotle metaphysics 1 ancient commentators on aristotle 9780715622438. Aristotles metaphysics classics oxford bibliographies. His influence has probably been most farreaching in the development of the theory of universals because he emphasized certain elements in aristotles not always unambiguous account. Alexander of aphrodisias in the history of ancient philosophy 1. Alexander of aphrodisiass commentary about ad 200 is the earliest extant commentary on aristotles metaphysics, and it is the most valuable indirect witness to the metaphysics text and its transmission. The commentary on book 1 has the further interest that over half of it is devoted to aristotles discussion of plato.
Philoponus later attacked aristotle on this last point, but alexander presents aristotles view in a most. Fazzo, the metaphysics front aristotle to alexander of aphrodisias, bulletin of the institute of classical studies, 55 2012, pp. The full, clear commentary of alexander of aphrodisias on this important book is. The first account on aristotles metaphysic in fourteen. Alexander composed several commentaries on the works of aristotle, in which he sought to escape a syncretistic tendency and to recover the pure doctrines of aristotle. His influence has probably been most farreaching in the development of the theory of universals because he emphasized certain elements in aristotle s not always unambiguous account. Alexander of aphrodisiass commentary about ad 200 is the earliest extant commentary on aristotles metaphysics and th. Syrianus on aristotle metaphysics 14 new books in. The purpose of this article is to point out historical relevancy of the further textual findings made together by fazzo and zonta in 2014, namely the. Alexander of aphrodisias and the text of aristotles metaphysics. Buy on aristotle metaphysics 4 ancient commentators on aristotle by arthur madigan, patrick madigan isbn. Alexander of aphrodisiass commentary about ad 200 is the earliest extant commentary on aristotles metaphysics and the most important indirect witness to the metaphysics text.
The reception of alexander from the end of the fifth to the end of the fifteenth century 2. Alexander of aphrodisias and the text of aristotles metaphysics book book details. Author of quaestiones, alexandri aphrodisiensis praeter commentaria scripta minora, in aristotelis metaphysica commentaria, on aristotles on coming to be and perishing 2. On aristotles metaphysics 4 ancient commentators on aristotle alexander of aphrodisias download bok.
Read alexander of aphrodisias and the text of aristotles metaphysics by mirjam kotwick available from rakuten kobo. Aristotles metaphysics, one of the most influential works in western thought, is a collection of fourteen treatises or books. Alexander was perhaps the most famous commentator on aristotles work in ancient times. Bloomsbury academic alexander of aphrodisias, william e.
Alexander of aphrodisias on aristotle s meteorology 4, e. On aristotle s metaphysics 2 and 3 by alexander of aphrodisias staff 1992, hardcover at the best online prices at ebay. Alexander of aphrodisiass most popular book is on aristotles metaphysics. Concordance with cag ancient commentators on aristotle.