One or five universe(s), a hesitation in Timaeus
Filosofía y religión en la Grecia antigua
Direc... more One or five universe(s), a hesitation in Timaeus
Filosofía y religión en la Grecia antigua Directores Jorge Luis Gutiérrez David Torrijos Castrillejo
COEDICIÓN UPSA EDICIONES UNIVERSIDAD PONTIFICIA DE SALAMANCA EDITORIAL SINDÉRESIS SALAMANCA 2024
Plato’s Thought Experiments · In this contribution, we would like to look at the presence of thou... more Plato’s Thought Experiments · In this contribution, we would like to look at the presence of thought experiments in Plato, as well as their relationship to image production in general and myths in particular. To this end, and to circumscribe a very broad field of investigation, we will suggest some answers to the following questions: (i) What is a philosophical thought experiment? Since the debate on this subject is still very lively today, it will be useful to present a brief description of the issues and difficulties surrounding the notion of thought experiment in the history of philosophy; (ii) Is it possible to identify a common pattern that would indicate the presence of thought experiments in ancient philosophy?; (iii) Are there Platonic thought experiments? After having answered to the first two questions, it will be possible to introduce three criteria that should be satisfied to in order to characterize a narrative based on the use of the im- agination as a thought experiment. By applying these criteria to two Platonic pieces of fiction, we will first come up with an analysis of the most well-known Platonic thought experience, Gyges’ ring, and then relativize the identification of the image of the Cave with such a category; (iv) Is it possible to associate the notion of thought experiment with some Platonic myths? With- out entering into a specific analysis, we will suggest, by way of conclusion, that some Platonic myths could also constitute thought experiments. This contribution will seek to offer a basis for what might be a more general study of thought experiments in Plato’s philosophy.
For Damascius, any attempt to grasp the first principle of all things, the Ineffable, implies the... more For Damascius, any attempt to grasp the first principle of all things, the Ineffable, implies the rejection of the principle of non-contradiction (PNC). The reasoning soul, using aporia, is forced to admit contradictory statements as true when it comes to cognising what lies beyond any intelligible being. Damascius shows that it is necessary to postulate a completely transcendent and unknowable Absolute which is the uncoordinated cause of all things beyond the One. This paper examines how Damascius relates the rejection of the PNC and regressive arguments by distinguishing two types of reversal (peritropê) of arguments. This paper begins by analysing: i) Damascius’ first aporia, ii) his characterisation of the first principle as ineffable and iii) its unknowable nature. This leads to some comments about Damascius’ use of predicates and their negations. Finally, the paper distinguishes between regression and reversal to suggest that Damascius’ reversal of the predicates implies that ...
In this article, we provide an analysis of the description of the pre-cosmic chaos and the functi... more In this article, we provide an analysis of the description of the pre-cosmic chaos and the function of this description within the context of the theory of participation which can be reconstructed in Plato’s Timaeus. More specifically, we will assume that the pre-cosmic chaos represents a counterfactual situation in which the universe is conceived without the action of the intelligible. This counterfactual state will be considered as an initial sequence allowing to visualize in a quasi-spatial way how the phenomenon of participation operates. We will give a detailed analysis of the passage (52d4-53b7) in order to integrate it as a sequence of what we will call the anatomy of participation. In our study, two more questions will be examined: i) the representation of the sensible without the intelligible in Plato’s works (Timaeus, Statesman, Philebus, Parmenides) and ii) the role of world soul as a possible cause of all movements in the universe (Timaeus and Laws).
Plato’s Parmenides Selected: Papers of the Twelfth Symposium Platonicum, 2022
What relationship does the second part of the Parmenides have with the first part? In this articl... more What relationship does the second part of the Parmenides have with the first part? In this article, we will try to show that Parmenides suggests in the second part of the dialogue a change of point of view: if the aporias of the first part were caused by the analysis of the notion of participation of the sensible to the intelligible, the second part of the dialogue develops, among other things, an account about the necessity for the intelligible to possess an identity of its own, without this identity implying that it would be necessary to consider the intelligible Forms as autarchic and isolated entities. We will defend that the first two series of deductions (D1 and D2) offer some important considerations about the necessity for some entities like the Forms to be described both in terms of identity and alterity. Addressing this prescription might well help to escape some of the difficulties of the first part of the dialogue.
RHIZOMATA: A JOURNAL FOR ANCIENT PHILOSOPHY AND SCIENCE, 2022
For Damascius, any attempt to grasp the first principle of all things, the Ineffable, implies the... more For Damascius, any attempt to grasp the first principle of all things, the Ineffable, implies the rejection of the principle of non-contradiction (PNC). The reasoning soul, using aporia, is forced to admit contradictory statements as true when it comes to cognising what lies beyond any intelligible being. Damascius shows that it is necessary to postulate a completely transcendent and unknowable Absolute which is the uncoordinated cause of all things beyond the One. This paper examines how Damascius relates the rejection of the PNC and regressive arguments by distinguishing two types of reversal ( peritropê ) of arguments. This paper begins by analysing: i) Damascius’ first aporia, ii) his characterisation of the first principle as ineffable and iii) its unknowable nature. This leads to some comments about Damascius’ use of predicates and their negations. Finally, the paper distinguishes between regression and reversal to suggest that Damascius’ reversal of the predicates implies that the first principle lies beyond the PNC but does not involve an infinity of first principles.
Time and Cosmology in Plato and the Platonic Tradition (Editors: Daniel Vázquez and Alberto Ross), Brill, 2022
I aim to suggest in this chapter that it is possible to understand Timaeus’ whole discourse as a ... more I aim to suggest in this chapter that it is possible to understand Timaeus’ whole discourse as a kind of thought experiment placing the audience (and the reader) in the footsteps of a diving craftsman. In other words, Timaeus is presenting to us the great experiment of fashioning the whole of the universe , an experiment which needs to be done not only by (deductive and non-deductive) reasoning, but also with the use our imagination. In consequence, the Demiurge will appear to be an epistemological tool allowing this experience to take place in our own minds, which will imply two important claims allowing to understand the originality of the present interpretation in relation to others: 1) it does not seem necessary to attribute to the Demiurge an ontological role and 2) Timaeus’ experiment cannot be “translated” into a purely argumentative account. In other words, and to the contrary to most didactic approaches, Timaeus’s discourse could not be expressed in an abstract treatise of cosmology for experts based on empirical observation and deductive a priori arguments, for the use of imagination is an essential part of the process.
This paper proposes to pose the question of a possible position of Plotinus with regard to the Ar... more This paper proposes to pose the question of a possible position of Plotinus with regard to the Argument of the Third Man (TMA): first, we will examine if it is possible to attribute to Plotinus a position as regards TMA such as it appears in the Parmenides, in particular with regard to the premise which affirms the self-predication (SP) of the Forms. Next, we will briefly consider how the question of the soul-body relationship can, to some extent, provide a better understanding of why Plotinus does not bother to give an explicit objection to TMA. Finally, we will analyze how the theory of two kinds of resemblance strikes a fatal blow to the spirit of TMA.
Atomism in Philosophy A History from Antiquity to the Present, Edited by Ugo Zilioli, 2020
This chapter is divided into two parts: first, in order to understand how a geometric atomistic v... more This chapter is divided into two parts: first, in order to understand how a geometric atomistic view of reality emerges in the Timaeus, a close look will be given to the structure of Plato’s story about the constitution of the universe. More precisely, the narration of the myth will be distinguished from its doctrinal content. Second, a description of Plato’s geometric atomism will be offered by considering its specific context. To conclude, following the results of the two first parts, I will briefly address three puzzles: the origin of motion, the nature of the Receptacle and the relationship between Plato’s geometric atomism and the Theory of Forms as it appears in the Timaeus.
Voluntas: Revista Internacional de Filosofia, 2020
Resumé. Cet article se propose de poser la question d'une éventuelle position de Plotin à propos ... more Resumé. Cet article se propose de poser la question d'une éventuelle position de Plotin à propos de l'Argument du Troisième Homme (TMA): d'abord, nous examinerons s'il est possible d'attribuer à Plotin une position quant au TMA tel qu'il apparaît dans le Parménide, en particulier en ce qui concerne la prémisse qui affirme l'auto-prédication (self-predication-SP) des Formes. Ensuite, nous envisagerons brièvement comment la question du rapport de l'âme au corps, peut, dans une certaine mesure, permettre de mieux comprendre pourquoi Plotin ne prend pas la peine de fournir une objection explicite au TMA. Finalement, nous analyserons comment la théorie des deux sortes de ressemblance assène un coup fatal à l'esprit du TMA.
Abstract: This paper proposes to pose the question of a possible position of Plotinus with regard to the Argument of the Third Man (TMA): first, we will examine if it is possible to attribute to Plotinus a position as regards TMA such as it appears in the Parmenides, in particular with regard to the premise which affirms the self-predication (SP) of the Forms. Next, we will briefly consider how the question of the soul-body relationship can, to some extent, provide a better understanding of why Plotinus does not bother to give an explicit objection to TMA. Finally, we will analyze how the theory of two kinds of resemblance strikes a fatal blow to the spirit of TMA.
The purpose of this article is to provide an analysis of the World Soul in Plato’s Timaeus. In sh... more The purpose of this article is to provide an analysis of the World Soul in Plato’s Timaeus. In showing how the description of the World Soul is elaborated in the Timaeus, highlighting the following dimensions, (a) its composition, (b) its mathematical structure, (c) its moving function and (d) its cognitive function, we will establish how this ontological constitution is articulated within the framework of the teleological dimension of the discourse. It will appear that it is the two functions of the World Soul (moving and cognitive) that justify why it possesses the structure of an intermediate mixture constituted from being, sameness and difference. As such, it is the proper cause (aitia), which is exemplified by the Demiurge’s teleological deduction in Timaeus’ discourse, that determines the auxiliary cause (sunaitia), namely, the structure of the World Soul.
O objetivo deste artigo é investigar a relevância dos ensinamentos metafísicos de Timeu. A intenç... more O objetivo deste artigo é investigar a relevância dos ensinamentos metafísicos de Timeu. A intenção das linhas que se seguirão não é fornecer uma refutação completa das leituras anti-metafísicas do Timeu, mas de forma mais modesta mostrar como a introdução do Receptáculo no diálogo poderia ser interpretado como uma solução oferecida por Platão para tentar resolver a aporia sobre a relação entre o sensível e o inteligível.
Le but de cet article est d'interroger la pertinence des enseignements métaphysiques du Timée. Notre intention ne sera pas de fournir une réfutation exhaustive des lectures antimétaphysiques du Timée, mais plus modestement de montrer comment l'introduction du Réceptacle dans le dialogue pourrait être interprétée comme une solution proposée par Platon pour tenter de résoudre l'aporie concernant la relation entre le sensible et l'intelligible.
The purpose of this article is to emphasize two alternatives introduced by Plato in the
Timaeus i... more The purpose of this article is to emphasize two alternatives introduced by Plato in the Timaeus in order to describe the model. In her argumentation developed in Nature and Divinity in Plato's Timaeus, S. Broadie affirms that a metaphysical reading of the Timaeus should be rejected in favor of a cosmological interpretation. To justify this idea, Broadie distinguishes between two ways of understanding what could be the model at which the demiurge looks in order to shape the cosmos, namely an original or a plan. According to Broadie, since it is the second alternative that is present in the Timaeus, and since this alternative is closely related to a cosmological interpretation of the dialogue, then it would be a mistake to offer a metaphysical reading of Timaeus’ discourse. However, as we shall see, the Timaeus associates the model not only with a plan but also with an original, which suggests that the cosmological reading of this dialogue should be connected with a metaphysical interpretation. Far from leading to a contradiction, the fact that Plato offers two versions of the model could mean that the question of the nature of Forms is not completely absent from the dialogue. In providing a double description of the model, and in offering metaphysical considerations within his cosmological discourse, Plato seems to provide an account of the nature of the intelligible and its explanatory role with regards to an understanding of what is the universe in all its complexity, for the two versions will allow to justify 1) the nature of cosmos as the best possible realization and 2) the ontological status of the sensible which possesses its own degree of being. Are these two versions fully compatible? We will suggest in our conclusion that the tension induced by their presence in the same dialogue actually allows a better understanding of Timaeus’ speech.
The main thesis I intend to defend here is that, although the Form of the Bed (in the Republic) ... more The main thesis I intend to defend here is that, although the Form of the Bed (in the Republic) is mentioned as an intelligible Form, Plato does not intend to include such a Form in his metaphysical hypothesis. Taking into account the context of the argument allows us to understand why the Form of the Bed is needed for the intellegibility of the argumentation of Book X, though, as such, Forms of artifacts should not be assumed as members of the family of Forms. However, I suggest that the criticism of the imitative arts in book X ultimately depends on the existence of the intelligible as such and not of certain specific Forms.
In this paper we argue that, in the Sophist, Plato provides the reader some elements about a revi... more In this paper we argue that, in the Sophist, Plato provides the reader some elements about a revision of his ontology behind the discussion about the nature of non-being. We would want to show that the analysis of the notion of image gives some indications concerning the nature of the sensible, which is usually described as an image of the intelligible.
One or five universe(s), a hesitation in Timaeus
Filosofía y religión en la Grecia antigua
Direc... more One or five universe(s), a hesitation in Timaeus
Filosofía y religión en la Grecia antigua Directores Jorge Luis Gutiérrez David Torrijos Castrillejo
COEDICIÓN UPSA EDICIONES UNIVERSIDAD PONTIFICIA DE SALAMANCA EDITORIAL SINDÉRESIS SALAMANCA 2024
Plato’s Thought Experiments · In this contribution, we would like to look at the presence of thou... more Plato’s Thought Experiments · In this contribution, we would like to look at the presence of thought experiments in Plato, as well as their relationship to image production in general and myths in particular. To this end, and to circumscribe a very broad field of investigation, we will suggest some answers to the following questions: (i) What is a philosophical thought experiment? Since the debate on this subject is still very lively today, it will be useful to present a brief description of the issues and difficulties surrounding the notion of thought experiment in the history of philosophy; (ii) Is it possible to identify a common pattern that would indicate the presence of thought experiments in ancient philosophy?; (iii) Are there Platonic thought experiments? After having answered to the first two questions, it will be possible to introduce three criteria that should be satisfied to in order to characterize a narrative based on the use of the im- agination as a thought experiment. By applying these criteria to two Platonic pieces of fiction, we will first come up with an analysis of the most well-known Platonic thought experience, Gyges’ ring, and then relativize the identification of the image of the Cave with such a category; (iv) Is it possible to associate the notion of thought experiment with some Platonic myths? With- out entering into a specific analysis, we will suggest, by way of conclusion, that some Platonic myths could also constitute thought experiments. This contribution will seek to offer a basis for what might be a more general study of thought experiments in Plato’s philosophy.
For Damascius, any attempt to grasp the first principle of all things, the Ineffable, implies the... more For Damascius, any attempt to grasp the first principle of all things, the Ineffable, implies the rejection of the principle of non-contradiction (PNC). The reasoning soul, using aporia, is forced to admit contradictory statements as true when it comes to cognising what lies beyond any intelligible being. Damascius shows that it is necessary to postulate a completely transcendent and unknowable Absolute which is the uncoordinated cause of all things beyond the One. This paper examines how Damascius relates the rejection of the PNC and regressive arguments by distinguishing two types of reversal (peritropê) of arguments. This paper begins by analysing: i) Damascius’ first aporia, ii) his characterisation of the first principle as ineffable and iii) its unknowable nature. This leads to some comments about Damascius’ use of predicates and their negations. Finally, the paper distinguishes between regression and reversal to suggest that Damascius’ reversal of the predicates implies that ...
In this article, we provide an analysis of the description of the pre-cosmic chaos and the functi... more In this article, we provide an analysis of the description of the pre-cosmic chaos and the function of this description within the context of the theory of participation which can be reconstructed in Plato’s Timaeus. More specifically, we will assume that the pre-cosmic chaos represents a counterfactual situation in which the universe is conceived without the action of the intelligible. This counterfactual state will be considered as an initial sequence allowing to visualize in a quasi-spatial way how the phenomenon of participation operates. We will give a detailed analysis of the passage (52d4-53b7) in order to integrate it as a sequence of what we will call the anatomy of participation. In our study, two more questions will be examined: i) the representation of the sensible without the intelligible in Plato’s works (Timaeus, Statesman, Philebus, Parmenides) and ii) the role of world soul as a possible cause of all movements in the universe (Timaeus and Laws).
Plato’s Parmenides Selected: Papers of the Twelfth Symposium Platonicum, 2022
What relationship does the second part of the Parmenides have with the first part? In this articl... more What relationship does the second part of the Parmenides have with the first part? In this article, we will try to show that Parmenides suggests in the second part of the dialogue a change of point of view: if the aporias of the first part were caused by the analysis of the notion of participation of the sensible to the intelligible, the second part of the dialogue develops, among other things, an account about the necessity for the intelligible to possess an identity of its own, without this identity implying that it would be necessary to consider the intelligible Forms as autarchic and isolated entities. We will defend that the first two series of deductions (D1 and D2) offer some important considerations about the necessity for some entities like the Forms to be described both in terms of identity and alterity. Addressing this prescription might well help to escape some of the difficulties of the first part of the dialogue.
RHIZOMATA: A JOURNAL FOR ANCIENT PHILOSOPHY AND SCIENCE, 2022
For Damascius, any attempt to grasp the first principle of all things, the Ineffable, implies the... more For Damascius, any attempt to grasp the first principle of all things, the Ineffable, implies the rejection of the principle of non-contradiction (PNC). The reasoning soul, using aporia, is forced to admit contradictory statements as true when it comes to cognising what lies beyond any intelligible being. Damascius shows that it is necessary to postulate a completely transcendent and unknowable Absolute which is the uncoordinated cause of all things beyond the One. This paper examines how Damascius relates the rejection of the PNC and regressive arguments by distinguishing two types of reversal ( peritropê ) of arguments. This paper begins by analysing: i) Damascius’ first aporia, ii) his characterisation of the first principle as ineffable and iii) its unknowable nature. This leads to some comments about Damascius’ use of predicates and their negations. Finally, the paper distinguishes between regression and reversal to suggest that Damascius’ reversal of the predicates implies that the first principle lies beyond the PNC but does not involve an infinity of first principles.
Time and Cosmology in Plato and the Platonic Tradition (Editors: Daniel Vázquez and Alberto Ross), Brill, 2022
I aim to suggest in this chapter that it is possible to understand Timaeus’ whole discourse as a ... more I aim to suggest in this chapter that it is possible to understand Timaeus’ whole discourse as a kind of thought experiment placing the audience (and the reader) in the footsteps of a diving craftsman. In other words, Timaeus is presenting to us the great experiment of fashioning the whole of the universe , an experiment which needs to be done not only by (deductive and non-deductive) reasoning, but also with the use our imagination. In consequence, the Demiurge will appear to be an epistemological tool allowing this experience to take place in our own minds, which will imply two important claims allowing to understand the originality of the present interpretation in relation to others: 1) it does not seem necessary to attribute to the Demiurge an ontological role and 2) Timaeus’ experiment cannot be “translated” into a purely argumentative account. In other words, and to the contrary to most didactic approaches, Timaeus’s discourse could not be expressed in an abstract treatise of cosmology for experts based on empirical observation and deductive a priori arguments, for the use of imagination is an essential part of the process.
This paper proposes to pose the question of a possible position of Plotinus with regard to the Ar... more This paper proposes to pose the question of a possible position of Plotinus with regard to the Argument of the Third Man (TMA): first, we will examine if it is possible to attribute to Plotinus a position as regards TMA such as it appears in the Parmenides, in particular with regard to the premise which affirms the self-predication (SP) of the Forms. Next, we will briefly consider how the question of the soul-body relationship can, to some extent, provide a better understanding of why Plotinus does not bother to give an explicit objection to TMA. Finally, we will analyze how the theory of two kinds of resemblance strikes a fatal blow to the spirit of TMA.
Atomism in Philosophy A History from Antiquity to the Present, Edited by Ugo Zilioli, 2020
This chapter is divided into two parts: first, in order to understand how a geometric atomistic v... more This chapter is divided into two parts: first, in order to understand how a geometric atomistic view of reality emerges in the Timaeus, a close look will be given to the structure of Plato’s story about the constitution of the universe. More precisely, the narration of the myth will be distinguished from its doctrinal content. Second, a description of Plato’s geometric atomism will be offered by considering its specific context. To conclude, following the results of the two first parts, I will briefly address three puzzles: the origin of motion, the nature of the Receptacle and the relationship between Plato’s geometric atomism and the Theory of Forms as it appears in the Timaeus.
Voluntas: Revista Internacional de Filosofia, 2020
Resumé. Cet article se propose de poser la question d'une éventuelle position de Plotin à propos ... more Resumé. Cet article se propose de poser la question d'une éventuelle position de Plotin à propos de l'Argument du Troisième Homme (TMA): d'abord, nous examinerons s'il est possible d'attribuer à Plotin une position quant au TMA tel qu'il apparaît dans le Parménide, en particulier en ce qui concerne la prémisse qui affirme l'auto-prédication (self-predication-SP) des Formes. Ensuite, nous envisagerons brièvement comment la question du rapport de l'âme au corps, peut, dans une certaine mesure, permettre de mieux comprendre pourquoi Plotin ne prend pas la peine de fournir une objection explicite au TMA. Finalement, nous analyserons comment la théorie des deux sortes de ressemblance assène un coup fatal à l'esprit du TMA.
Abstract: This paper proposes to pose the question of a possible position of Plotinus with regard to the Argument of the Third Man (TMA): first, we will examine if it is possible to attribute to Plotinus a position as regards TMA such as it appears in the Parmenides, in particular with regard to the premise which affirms the self-predication (SP) of the Forms. Next, we will briefly consider how the question of the soul-body relationship can, to some extent, provide a better understanding of why Plotinus does not bother to give an explicit objection to TMA. Finally, we will analyze how the theory of two kinds of resemblance strikes a fatal blow to the spirit of TMA.
The purpose of this article is to provide an analysis of the World Soul in Plato’s Timaeus. In sh... more The purpose of this article is to provide an analysis of the World Soul in Plato’s Timaeus. In showing how the description of the World Soul is elaborated in the Timaeus, highlighting the following dimensions, (a) its composition, (b) its mathematical structure, (c) its moving function and (d) its cognitive function, we will establish how this ontological constitution is articulated within the framework of the teleological dimension of the discourse. It will appear that it is the two functions of the World Soul (moving and cognitive) that justify why it possesses the structure of an intermediate mixture constituted from being, sameness and difference. As such, it is the proper cause (aitia), which is exemplified by the Demiurge’s teleological deduction in Timaeus’ discourse, that determines the auxiliary cause (sunaitia), namely, the structure of the World Soul.
O objetivo deste artigo é investigar a relevância dos ensinamentos metafísicos de Timeu. A intenç... more O objetivo deste artigo é investigar a relevância dos ensinamentos metafísicos de Timeu. A intenção das linhas que se seguirão não é fornecer uma refutação completa das leituras anti-metafísicas do Timeu, mas de forma mais modesta mostrar como a introdução do Receptáculo no diálogo poderia ser interpretado como uma solução oferecida por Platão para tentar resolver a aporia sobre a relação entre o sensível e o inteligível.
Le but de cet article est d'interroger la pertinence des enseignements métaphysiques du Timée. Notre intention ne sera pas de fournir une réfutation exhaustive des lectures antimétaphysiques du Timée, mais plus modestement de montrer comment l'introduction du Réceptacle dans le dialogue pourrait être interprétée comme une solution proposée par Platon pour tenter de résoudre l'aporie concernant la relation entre le sensible et l'intelligible.
The purpose of this article is to emphasize two alternatives introduced by Plato in the
Timaeus i... more The purpose of this article is to emphasize two alternatives introduced by Plato in the Timaeus in order to describe the model. In her argumentation developed in Nature and Divinity in Plato's Timaeus, S. Broadie affirms that a metaphysical reading of the Timaeus should be rejected in favor of a cosmological interpretation. To justify this idea, Broadie distinguishes between two ways of understanding what could be the model at which the demiurge looks in order to shape the cosmos, namely an original or a plan. According to Broadie, since it is the second alternative that is present in the Timaeus, and since this alternative is closely related to a cosmological interpretation of the dialogue, then it would be a mistake to offer a metaphysical reading of Timaeus’ discourse. However, as we shall see, the Timaeus associates the model not only with a plan but also with an original, which suggests that the cosmological reading of this dialogue should be connected with a metaphysical interpretation. Far from leading to a contradiction, the fact that Plato offers two versions of the model could mean that the question of the nature of Forms is not completely absent from the dialogue. In providing a double description of the model, and in offering metaphysical considerations within his cosmological discourse, Plato seems to provide an account of the nature of the intelligible and its explanatory role with regards to an understanding of what is the universe in all its complexity, for the two versions will allow to justify 1) the nature of cosmos as the best possible realization and 2) the ontological status of the sensible which possesses its own degree of being. Are these two versions fully compatible? We will suggest in our conclusion that the tension induced by their presence in the same dialogue actually allows a better understanding of Timaeus’ speech.
The main thesis I intend to defend here is that, although the Form of the Bed (in the Republic) ... more The main thesis I intend to defend here is that, although the Form of the Bed (in the Republic) is mentioned as an intelligible Form, Plato does not intend to include such a Form in his metaphysical hypothesis. Taking into account the context of the argument allows us to understand why the Form of the Bed is needed for the intellegibility of the argumentation of Book X, though, as such, Forms of artifacts should not be assumed as members of the family of Forms. However, I suggest that the criticism of the imitative arts in book X ultimately depends on the existence of the intelligible as such and not of certain specific Forms.
In this paper we argue that, in the Sophist, Plato provides the reader some elements about a revi... more In this paper we argue that, in the Sophist, Plato provides the reader some elements about a revision of his ontology behind the discussion about the nature of non-being. We would want to show that the analysis of the notion of image gives some indications concerning the nature of the sensible, which is usually described as an image of the intelligible.
This book offers a new interpretation of Plato’s Timaeus in which the cosmological myth is identi... more This book offers a new interpretation of Plato’s Timaeus in which the cosmological myth is identified with a thought experiment. Timaeus’ discourse asks us what we would do if we were a divine craftsman in charge of fashioning the universe by bestowing order upon a chaotic milieu. After having adopted three criteria to be satisfied to belong to the category of thought experiment (1: counterfactuality; 2: necessity of image productions; 3: cognitive progress), it is defended that Timaeus’ speech contains both a sequence of deductive arguments and the possibility to combine these arguments into different mental models of the universe.
This edited volume brings together contributions from prominent scholars to discuss new approache... more This edited volume brings together contributions from prominent scholars to discuss new approaches to Plato’s philosophy, especially in the burgeoning fields of Platonic ontology and psychology. Topics such as the relationship between mind, soul and emotions, as well as the connection between ontology and ethics are discussed through the analyses of dialogues from Plato’s middle and late periods, such as the Republic, Symposium, Theaetetus, Timaeus and Laws. These works are being increasingly studied both as precursors for Aristotelian philosophy and in their own right, and the analyses included in this volume reveal some new interpretations of topics such as Plato’s attitude towards artistic imagination and the possibility of speaking of a teleology in Plato.
Focusing on hot topics in the area, Psychology and Ontology in Plato provides a good sense of what is happening in Platonic scholarship worldwide and will be of interest to academic researchers and teachers interested in ancient philosophy, ontology and philosophical psychology.
Enquête systématique sur le rapport de distinction entre les Formes et les particuliers dans les ... more Enquête systématique sur le rapport de distinction entre les Formes et les particuliers dans les dialogues 2017. 310 S. 49,50 Euro. 15,5 x 23,5 cm. Hardcover. 978-3-89665-715-2. (International Plato Studies Bd. 37) L'enquête au coeur de ce livre examine comment, dans les dialogues, Platon distingue le sensible et l'intelligible. Dans cette optique, les principaux éléments de l'hypothèse des Formes seront analysés dans le cadre d'une lecture aporétique des dialogues. S'il est vrai que pour Platon, une séparation entre les sphères du sensible et de l'intelligible est problé-matique, une lecture détaillée des dialogues (Phédon, Phèdre, République, Banquet, Par-ménide, Sophiste et Timée) fera néanmoins apparaître qu'une telle distinction ne doit pas être décrite comme la séparation de deux mondes, mais plutôt comme la différenciation de deux degrés d'être, le sensible étant en définitive caractérisé comme l'apparition des images des Formes dans le Réceptacle. Une telle caractérisation sera le résultat d'un long chemi-nement dialectique qui aura pour but de garantir un statut ontologique au sensible en tant qu'intermédiaire entre l'être et le non-être.
La théorie et le paradigme démiurgiques postulent l'existence d'un artisan divin dont la fonction... more La théorie et le paradigme démiurgiques postulent l'existence d'un artisan divin dont la fonction est d'harmoniser l'univers. Les précédents travaux du programme Demiourgos ont permis d'admettre que la thèse démiurgique a pu être étendue, retravaillée, réélaborée à la fois dans des traditions philosophiques et religieuses. Mais la divinité n'est pas seule, elle se trouve être au fondement et à la source de la nature dont il faut bien comprendre les structures, les mécanismes et les causes. Le travail démiurgique réussit-il ou le chaos résiste-t-il, au contraire, à Dieu ? Le monde est-il, de part en part, rationnel ou seulement maintenu, envers et contre tout, par la volonté et la providence divines ? S'il y a génération du monde, donne-t-elle véritablement lieu à un cosmos ordonné ?
Uploads
Filosofía y religión en la Grecia antigua
Directores
Jorge Luis Gutiérrez
David Torrijos Castrillejo
COEDICIÓN
UPSA EDICIONES
UNIVERSIDAD PONTIFICIA DE SALAMANCA
EDITORIAL SINDÉRESIS
SALAMANCA
2024
Abstract: This paper proposes to pose the question of a possible position of Plotinus with regard to the Argument of the Third Man (TMA): first, we will examine if it is possible to attribute to Plotinus a position as regards TMA such as it appears in the Parmenides, in particular with regard to the premise which affirms the self-predication (SP) of the Forms. Next, we will briefly consider how the question of the soul-body relationship can, to some extent, provide a better understanding of why Plotinus does not bother to give an explicit objection to TMA. Finally, we will analyze how the theory of two kinds of resemblance strikes a fatal blow to the spirit of TMA.
Le but de cet article est d'interroger la pertinence des enseignements métaphysiques du Timée. Notre intention ne sera pas de fournir une réfutation exhaustive des lectures antimétaphysiques du Timée, mais plus modestement de montrer comment l'introduction du Réceptacle dans le dialogue pourrait être interprétée comme une solution proposée par Platon pour tenter de résoudre l'aporie concernant la relation entre le sensible et l'intelligible.
Timaeus in order to describe the model. In her argumentation developed in Nature and
Divinity in Plato's Timaeus, S. Broadie affirms that a metaphysical reading of the Timaeus
should be rejected in favor of a cosmological interpretation. To justify this idea, Broadie
distinguishes between two ways of understanding what could be the model at which the
demiurge looks in order to shape the cosmos, namely an original or a plan. According to
Broadie, since it is the second alternative that is present in the Timaeus, and since this
alternative is closely related to a cosmological interpretation of the dialogue, then it would be
a mistake to offer a metaphysical reading of Timaeus’ discourse. However, as we shall see,
the Timaeus associates the model not only with a plan but also with an original, which
suggests that the cosmological reading of this dialogue should be connected with a
metaphysical interpretation. Far from leading to a contradiction, the fact that Plato offers two
versions of the model could mean that the question of the nature of Forms is not completely
absent from the dialogue. In providing a double description of the model, and in offering
metaphysical considerations within his cosmological discourse, Plato seems to provide an
account of the nature of the intelligible and its explanatory role with regards to an
understanding of what is the universe in all its complexity, for the two versions will allow to
justify 1) the nature of cosmos as the best possible realization and 2) the ontological status of
the sensible which possesses its own degree of being. Are these two versions fully
compatible? We will suggest in our conclusion that the tension induced by their presence in
the same dialogue actually allows a better understanding of Timaeus’ speech.
Filosofía y religión en la Grecia antigua
Directores
Jorge Luis Gutiérrez
David Torrijos Castrillejo
COEDICIÓN
UPSA EDICIONES
UNIVERSIDAD PONTIFICIA DE SALAMANCA
EDITORIAL SINDÉRESIS
SALAMANCA
2024
Abstract: This paper proposes to pose the question of a possible position of Plotinus with regard to the Argument of the Third Man (TMA): first, we will examine if it is possible to attribute to Plotinus a position as regards TMA such as it appears in the Parmenides, in particular with regard to the premise which affirms the self-predication (SP) of the Forms. Next, we will briefly consider how the question of the soul-body relationship can, to some extent, provide a better understanding of why Plotinus does not bother to give an explicit objection to TMA. Finally, we will analyze how the theory of two kinds of resemblance strikes a fatal blow to the spirit of TMA.
Le but de cet article est d'interroger la pertinence des enseignements métaphysiques du Timée. Notre intention ne sera pas de fournir une réfutation exhaustive des lectures antimétaphysiques du Timée, mais plus modestement de montrer comment l'introduction du Réceptacle dans le dialogue pourrait être interprétée comme une solution proposée par Platon pour tenter de résoudre l'aporie concernant la relation entre le sensible et l'intelligible.
Timaeus in order to describe the model. In her argumentation developed in Nature and
Divinity in Plato's Timaeus, S. Broadie affirms that a metaphysical reading of the Timaeus
should be rejected in favor of a cosmological interpretation. To justify this idea, Broadie
distinguishes between two ways of understanding what could be the model at which the
demiurge looks in order to shape the cosmos, namely an original or a plan. According to
Broadie, since it is the second alternative that is present in the Timaeus, and since this
alternative is closely related to a cosmological interpretation of the dialogue, then it would be
a mistake to offer a metaphysical reading of Timaeus’ discourse. However, as we shall see,
the Timaeus associates the model not only with a plan but also with an original, which
suggests that the cosmological reading of this dialogue should be connected with a
metaphysical interpretation. Far from leading to a contradiction, the fact that Plato offers two
versions of the model could mean that the question of the nature of Forms is not completely
absent from the dialogue. In providing a double description of the model, and in offering
metaphysical considerations within his cosmological discourse, Plato seems to provide an
account of the nature of the intelligible and its explanatory role with regards to an
understanding of what is the universe in all its complexity, for the two versions will allow to
justify 1) the nature of cosmos as the best possible realization and 2) the ontological status of
the sensible which possesses its own degree of being. Are these two versions fully
compatible? We will suggest in our conclusion that the tension induced by their presence in
the same dialogue actually allows a better understanding of Timaeus’ speech.
Focusing on hot topics in the area, Psychology and Ontology in Plato provides a good sense of what is happening in Platonic scholarship worldwide and will be of interest to academic researchers and teachers interested in ancient philosophy, ontology and philosophical psychology.