Michael Erler, Luc Brisson, Gorgias - Menon : selected papers from the Seventh Symposium Platonicum. International Plato studies ; v. 25. Sankt Augustin: Academia Verlag, 2007, 273-277., 2007
Es ist allgemein bekannt, daß Aristoteles Platon häufig und nicht ohne Polemik kritisiert bzw. ko... more Es ist allgemein bekannt, daß Aristoteles Platon häufig und nicht ohne Polemik kritisiert bzw. korrigiert. Das wurde besonders deutlich und mit einer Fülle von Material dargestellt von H. Chemiss in seinem monumentalen Werk "Aristotle’s Criticism of Plato and theAcademy". Auch heutzutage ist der Gegensatz zwischen Platon und Aristoteles allgemein anerkannt, obschon es immer wieder Versuche gibt, beide Denker zu harmonisieren und Aristoteles’ Kritik zu relativieren.2 Solche Harmonisierungversuche sind auch schon in der Antike, ja sogar bei Platons direkten Nachfolgern nachzuweisen.3 Auch im Falle der Neuplatoniker lassen sich derartige Tendenzen feststellen.4 Im folgenden möchte ich dagegen ausgewählte Texte präsentieren und analysieren, die dieser Strömung entgegentreten: einige neuplatonische Interpretationen des Menonparadoxons und seiner Lösung, der Lehre von der Wiedererinnerung.
Helmig, Christoph, "Simplicius", The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Summer 2020 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.), URL = <https://plato.stanford.edu/archives/sum2020/entries/simplicius/>, 2020
Simplicius of Cilicia (ca. 480-560 CE), roughly a contemporary of John Philoponus, is without dou... more Simplicius of Cilicia (ca. 480-560 CE), roughly a contemporary of John Philoponus, is without doubt the most important Neoplatonic commentator on Aristotle and one of the two most influential exegetes within the Aristotelian tradition, along with Alexander of Aphrodisias (around 200 CE). Simplicius' works are an unmatched source for the intellectual traditions that preceded him: Presocratic, Platonic, and especially the Peripatetic tradition. He is also an independent thinker in his own right, with a coherent philosophical agenda. Best known for his tendency to harmonise Plato and Aristotle, he nevertheless criticised Aristotle on several occasions and considered himself a loyal follower of Plato. Writing in an age when Christianity was the dominant religious and political view, Simplicius aimed to show that the Hellenic tradition is not only much older, but also more venerable and more coherent than the Christian tradition. Unimpressed by charges of alleged contradictions among Greek philosophers, Simplicius repeatedly proclaimed that "the ancient wisdom (palaia philosophia) remains unrefuted" (In Phys. 77.11). It is also noteworthy that, like Proclus and other Neoplatonists, Simplicius presents himself as a thinker for whom philosophy and theology form a complete unity. As has frequently been observed, Simplicius' works, despite their scholarly outlook, have an important spiritual dimension (see §5).
Helmig, Christoph and Carlos Steel, "Proclus", The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Fall 2021 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.), URL = <https://plato.stanford.edu/archives/fall2021/entries/proclus/>, 2020
Proclus of Athens (*412-485 C.E.) was the most authoritative philosopher of late antiquity and pl... more Proclus of Athens (*412-485 C.E.) was the most authoritative philosopher of late antiquity and played a crucial role in the transmission of Platonic philosophy from antiquity to the Middle Ages. For almost fifty years, he was head or 'successor' (diadochos, sc. of Plato) of the Platonic 'Academy' in Athens. Being an exceptionally productive writer, he composed commentaries on Aristotle, Euclid and Plato, systematic treatises in all disciplines of philosophy as it was at that time (metaphysics and theology, physics, astronomy, mathematics, ethics) and exegetical works on traditions of religious wisdom (Orphism and Chaldaean Oracles). Proclus had a lasting influence on the development of the late Neoplatonic schools not only in Athens, but also in Alexandria, where his student Ammonius became the head of the school. In a culture dominated by Christianity, the Neoplatonic philosophers had to defend the superiority of the Hellenic traditions of wisdom. Continuing a movement that was inaugurated by Iamblichus (4 th c.) and the charismatic figure of emperor Julian, and following the teaching of Syrianus, Proclus was eager to demonstrate the harmony of the ancient religious revelations (the mythologies of Homer and Hesiod, the Orphic theogonies and the Chaldaean Oracles) and to integrate them in the philosophical tradition of Pythagoras and Plato. Towards this end, his Platonic Theology offers a magisterial summa of pagan Hellenic theology. Probably the best starting point for the study of Proclus' philosophy is the Elements of Theology (with the masterly commentary by E.R. Dodds) which provide a systematic introduction into the Neoplatonic metaphysical system.
Die philosophische Lehre des Platonismus. Die Ethik im antiken Platonismus der Kaiserzeit. Bausteine 231–252: Text, Übersetzung, Kommentar, 2020
Bibliografische Information der Deutschen Nationalbibliothek Die Deutsche Nationalbibliothek verz... more Bibliografische Information der Deutschen Nationalbibliothek Die Deutsche Nationalbibliothek verzeichnet diese Publikation in der Deutschen Nationalbibliografie; detaillierte bibliografische Daten sind im Internet über http://dnb.dnb.de abrufbar.
Received Opinions: Doxography in Antiquity and the Islamic World. Leiden, The Netherlands: Brill., 2022
What did ancient doxographical approaches towards the Presocratic Parmenides of Elea look like an... more What did ancient doxographical approaches towards the Presocratic Parmenides of Elea look like and which role did the Neoplatonist Simplicius play in this story? The paper proposes to mark off different approaches depending mainly on the authority or esteem of Parmenides in the tradition after him. On the whole, ancient authors are much more selective in interpreting their predecessors. In the case of Parmenides, the main focus of attention is the first part of his poem and, more specifically, the thesis that Being is One. While Plato in his later dialogues tries to develop Eleatic conceptions further, Aristotle seems to be convinced that Parmenides and his successors do not present us with a very coherent philosophy. From Middle Platonism onwards, we observe a tendency to bring Parmenides in agreement with Plato (Platonising reading). Writing at the close of Antiquity, Simplicius is eager to bridge the gap between Plato and Aristotle. His extensive treatment of Parmenides ultimately serves to demonstrate the essential unity (symphônia) of ancient Hellenic wisdom and especially the harmony between Plato and Aristotle.
Forms and Concepts is the first comprehensive study of the central role of concepts and concept a... more Forms and Concepts is the first comprehensive study of the central role of concepts and concept acquisition in the Platonic tradition. It sets up a stimulating dialogue between Plato s innatist approach and Aristotle s much more empirical response. The primary aim is to analyze and assess the strategies with which Platonists responded to Aristotle s (and Alexander of Aphrodisias ) rival theory. The monograph culminates in a careful reconstruction of the elaborate attempt undertaken by the Neoplatonist Proclus (6th century AD) to devise a systematic Platonic theory of concept acquisition.
World Soul – Anima Mundi. On the Origins and Fortunes of a Fundamental Idea, edited by Christoph Helmig (Topics in Ancient Philosophy, 8), Berlin / Boston: de Gruyter, 2020., 2020
There have only been very few ideas in the history of Western philosophy as influential as that o... more There have only been very few ideas in the history of Western philosophy as influential as that of the ensoulment of the world or the cosmos.1 The first explicit mention of a World Soul or soul of the all (gr. tou pantos psuchê, lat. anima mundi) can be found in Plato's Timaeus (41d), but even modern environmental activists have invoked this conception in order to argue that we must not treat the world around us as a mere object.2 It rather has the same dignity and the same rights as other living beings or even humans. This idea might be compared to several mythical traditions that speak of Mother Earth ('Mutter Erde') or Mother Nature ('Mutter Natur'). This seems to be, I am glad to say, the first collected volume on the World Soul in ancient thought.3 It has, however, not been the aim to cover all aspects of the topic, but I hope that the present volume provides a good overview of relevant debates and stimulates further research. The following pages are meant as a short introduction into theories of the World Soul in ancient, late ancient and early Christian philosophy.4
The Junior Research Group »Place, Space and Motion« investigates the role of spatial concepts in ... more The Junior Research Group »Place, Space and Motion« investigates the role of spatial concepts in physical theories in the millennium from Plato (4th century BCE) through Philoponus and Simplicius (6th century CE). In particular, we examine the explicit theoretical views of ancient physicists and philosophers concerning space, the spatial features of bodies, and the existence of isomorphisms among space, change, and time. Projects are devoted to issues in Plato's Timaeus and Aristotle's Physics, and to the interwoven reception of these texts in Middle Platonism and Late Platonism. We trace the evolving answers given to such central questions as whether space is metaphysically basic or is rather dependent upon bodies or even non-spatial entities (such as souls); the possibility of empty space; the causal role of space in nature; how spatial structures make certain kinds of change possible or necessary. The group aims to produce a series of essays and commentaries examining key texts of Plato and Aristotle and tracing the reception and transformation of their views in Middle-and Late Platonism. (b) Methods. The group engages in close reading and interpretation of ancient texts, with the aim of constructing a history of engagement with the questions indicated above. The main areas of expertise brought to bear on the relevant texts lie in classical philology, history of ideas, history of science, and systematic philosophy. In a weekly research seminar, individual research projects and results are presented in detail and discussed in the light of these varied disciplines and skill sets. (c) State of Discussion. Relevant texts are interpreted both internally and in the light of their relationships with earlier sources and later readings. In this way a narrative is emerging of development and interrelationship among ancient theories of space-a narrative with some shape and coherence, but without the suppression of details and uncertainties. The group is also beginning to pay more attention to epistemological issues, concerning the sources of theoretical knowledge about space, and the evolving standards of argument, justifi cation, and presentation of such knowledge.
The volume discusses the notion of space by focusing on the most representative exponents of the ... more The volume discusses the notion of space by focusing on the most representative exponents of the Hellenistic schools and explores the role played by spatial concepts in both coeval and later authors who, without specifically thematising these concepts, made use of them in a theoretically original way. Renowned scholars investigate the philosophical significance and bring to light the problematical character of the ancient conceptions of space.
Bonazzi, Mauro and Christoph Helmig. Platonic Stoicism - Stoic Platonism: The Dialogue between Platonism and Stoicism in Antiquity. Leuven University Press, 2008, 2008
This book examines the important but largely neglected issue of the interrelation between Platoni... more This book examines the important but largely neglected issue of the interrelation between Platonism and Stoicism in Ancient Philosophy. Several renowned specialists in the fields of Stoic and Platonic analyse the intricate mutual influences between Stoic and Platonic philosophers in the Hellenistic period, the Imperial Age, and after. Although it has been repeatedly claimed that the phenomenon addressed in this book could best be labelled eclecticism, it emerges from the various articles collected here that the situation is much more complicated. Far from being eclectics, most Stoics and Platonists consciously appropriated their material in order to integrate it into their own philosophical system. The dialogue between Platonists and Stoics testifies to active debate and controversy on central topics such as psychology, epistemology, physics, and ethics. This book will deepen our understanding of the dialogue between different philosophical schools in Antiquity. The results presented here teach one clear lesson: Platonism and Stoicism were by no means monolithic blocks, but were continuously moulded by mutual influence and interaction.
(a) Topics and Goals. The Junior Research Group »Place, Space and Motion« investigates the role o... more (a) Topics and Goals. The Junior Research Group »Place, Space and Motion« investigates the role of spatial concepts in physical theories in the millennium from Plato (4th century BCE) through Philoponus and Simplicius (6th century CE). In particular, we examine the explicit theoretical views of ancient physicists and philosophers concerning space, the spatial features of bodies, and the existence of isomorphisms among space, change, and time. Projects are devoted to issues in Plato’s Timaeus and Aristotle’s Physics, and to the interwoven reception of these texts in Middle Platonism and Late Platonism. We trace the evolving answers given to such central questions as whether space is metaphysically basic or is rather dependent upon bodies or even non-spatial entities (such as souls); the possibility of empty space; the causal role of space in nature; how spatial structures make certain kinds of change possible or necessary. The group aims to produce a series of essays and commentaries examining key texts of Plato and Aristotle and tracing the reception and transformation of their views in Middle- and Late Platonism. (b) Methods. The group engages in close reading and interpretation of ancient texts, with the aim of constructing a history of engagement with the questions indicated above. The main areas of expertise brought to bear on the relevant texts lie in classical philology, history of ideas, history of science, and systematic philosophy. In a weekly research seminar, individual research projects and results are presented in detail and discussed in the light of these varied disciplines and skill sets. (c) State of Discussion. Relevant texts are interpreted both internally and in the light of their relationships with earlier sources and later readings. In this way a narrative is emerging of development and interrelationship among ancient theories of space – a narrative with some shape and coherence, but without the suppression of details and uncertainties. The group is also beginning to pay more attention to epistemological issues, concerning the sources of theoretical knowledge about space, and the evolving standards of argument, justification, and presentation of such knowledge. Keywords: Physics • Topology • Continuity • Matter • Void • Plato’s Timaeus • Neoplatonism • Aristotelian • Commentary
d'Hoine, Pieter, and Marije Martjin (eds), All From One: A Guide to Proclus (Oxford, 2016; online edn, Oxford Academic, 19 Jan. 2017), Dec 1, 2016
For Proclus, like other Platonists, logic, epistemology, and philosophy of language are not disti... more For Proclus, like other Platonists, logic, epistemology, and philosophy of language are not distinct as a tool and parts of philosophy respectively, but are all part of dialectic. This chapter first briefly addresses Proclus’ logic, specifically the ‘rule of obversion’ ascribed to him, and his naturalist philosophy of language, and thereafter moves on to epistemology. The author discusses Proclus’ top-down psychology, where the highest faculty is the paradigm for the lower ones; the Iamblichean principle that knower determines knowledge; the essential reason-principles, or lower forms constituting the soul’s essence; Proclus’ rich notion of recollection; his solutions to two challenges to his epistemology: the knowledge of things of which there is no Form, and the use of images in cognition. Finally, in the conclusion the author assesses Proclus’ originality and discusses the fact that for late Neoplatonists knowledge is not an end in itself.
Grundriss der Geschichte der Philosophie, begründet von Friedrich Ueberweg, völlig neu bearbeitet... more Grundriss der Geschichte der Philosophie, begründet von Friedrich Ueberweg, völlig neu bearbeitete Ausgab
Dopo trent'anni dalla sua prima edizione, si offre finalmente in traduzione italiana il volume di... more Dopo trent'anni dalla sua prima edizione, si offre finalmente in traduzione italiana il volume di Stephen Gersh From Iamblichus to Eriugena: An Investigation of the Prehistory and Evolution of the Pseudo-Dionysian Tradition (1978). Il passaggio dal neoplatonismo pagano al neoplatonismo cristiano deve molto ai contributi concettuali di Giamblico e all'opera, cinque secoli dopo, di Eriugena. Questi raccolse, nel mondo latino e con categorie cristiane, l’intera eredità della riflessione degli ultimi pagani greci, attraverso la mediazione degli scritti dello Pseudo-Dionigi che rappresentano lo snodo teorico essenziale di questo lungo itinerario di transizione di idee dal mondo pagano a quello cristiano (come spiega il sottotitolo di questo libro). Da Giamblico a Eriugena ricostruisce i tratti caratteristici di questo percorso, individuando gli elementi che hanno determinato il cambiamento secondo una prospettiva diacronica. La Prefazione dell'Autore all'edizione italiana, una lunga Introduzione dei curatori e un Supplemento bibliografico aggiornato colmano la distanza critica dalla prima edizione, la cui importanza nel panorama degli studi sul neoplatonismo rimane confermata. [from the website of the publisher Pagina]
Strobel, Benedikt. Die Kunst der philosophischen Exegese bei den spätantiken Platon- und Aristoteles-Kommentatoren, Berlin, Boston: De Gruyter, 2019. , 2019
Abgerundet wird der Band durch CH. HELMIGS Beitrag zur Schlussphase
der spätantiken Platon- und ... more Abgerundet wird der Band durch CH. HELMIGS Beitrag zur Schlussphase
der spätantiken Platon- und Aristoteles-Kommentierung in der 2. Hälfte des
6. Jh., nämlich zu den eher schattenhaften Gestalten Elias resp. David und
genauer zur Frage, wer von den beiden (wenn denn überhaupt einer von ihnen)
der Verfasser des Kommentars zu den Kategorien ist, der unter Davids Namen
überliefert ist und von A. Busse Elias zugeschrieben worden ist. Helmig zeigt
auf der Grundlage einer detaillierten Untersuchung der spezifischen philosophisch-
schriftstellerischen Profile, welche Elias und David in anderen, in ihrer
Autorschaft unumstrittenen Werken erkennen lassen, dass, anders als Busse
dachte, David der Autor des Kommentars zur Kategorienschrift ist. Als Ausweis
hierfür gilt Helmig insbesondere der Umstand – und damit ist erneut die
Leitfrage nach dem Verhältnis von Platon und Aristoteles angesprochen –, dass
erstens Elias Divergenzen zwischen Platon und Aristoteles stillschweigend
übergeht und eine eher oberflächliche Harmonisierung verfolgt, während David
die Divergenzen zunächst herausarbeitet, um dann beider Positionen einander
anzunähern, sowie zweitens der Kategorien-Kommentar die für David charakteristische
Verfahrensweise im Umgang mit Unstimmigkeiten zwischen
platonischer und aristotelischer Lehre erkennen lässt. [Benedikt Strobel, Einleitung S. 7]
Michael Erler, Luc Brisson, Gorgias - Menon : selected papers from the Seventh Symposium Platonicum. International Plato studies ; v. 25. Sankt Augustin: Academia Verlag, 2007, 273-277., 2007
Es ist allgemein bekannt, daß Aristoteles Platon häufig und nicht ohne Polemik kritisiert bzw. ko... more Es ist allgemein bekannt, daß Aristoteles Platon häufig und nicht ohne Polemik kritisiert bzw. korrigiert. Das wurde besonders deutlich und mit einer Fülle von Material dargestellt von H. Chemiss in seinem monumentalen Werk "Aristotle’s Criticism of Plato and theAcademy". Auch heutzutage ist der Gegensatz zwischen Platon und Aristoteles allgemein anerkannt, obschon es immer wieder Versuche gibt, beide Denker zu harmonisieren und Aristoteles’ Kritik zu relativieren.2 Solche Harmonisierungversuche sind auch schon in der Antike, ja sogar bei Platons direkten Nachfolgern nachzuweisen.3 Auch im Falle der Neuplatoniker lassen sich derartige Tendenzen feststellen.4 Im folgenden möchte ich dagegen ausgewählte Texte präsentieren und analysieren, die dieser Strömung entgegentreten: einige neuplatonische Interpretationen des Menonparadoxons und seiner Lösung, der Lehre von der Wiedererinnerung.
Helmig, Christoph, "Simplicius", The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Summer 2020 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.), URL = <https://plato.stanford.edu/archives/sum2020/entries/simplicius/>, 2020
Simplicius of Cilicia (ca. 480-560 CE), roughly a contemporary of John Philoponus, is without dou... more Simplicius of Cilicia (ca. 480-560 CE), roughly a contemporary of John Philoponus, is without doubt the most important Neoplatonic commentator on Aristotle and one of the two most influential exegetes within the Aristotelian tradition, along with Alexander of Aphrodisias (around 200 CE). Simplicius' works are an unmatched source for the intellectual traditions that preceded him: Presocratic, Platonic, and especially the Peripatetic tradition. He is also an independent thinker in his own right, with a coherent philosophical agenda. Best known for his tendency to harmonise Plato and Aristotle, he nevertheless criticised Aristotle on several occasions and considered himself a loyal follower of Plato. Writing in an age when Christianity was the dominant religious and political view, Simplicius aimed to show that the Hellenic tradition is not only much older, but also more venerable and more coherent than the Christian tradition. Unimpressed by charges of alleged contradictions among Greek philosophers, Simplicius repeatedly proclaimed that "the ancient wisdom (palaia philosophia) remains unrefuted" (In Phys. 77.11). It is also noteworthy that, like Proclus and other Neoplatonists, Simplicius presents himself as a thinker for whom philosophy and theology form a complete unity. As has frequently been observed, Simplicius' works, despite their scholarly outlook, have an important spiritual dimension (see §5).
Helmig, Christoph and Carlos Steel, "Proclus", The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Fall 2021 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.), URL = <https://plato.stanford.edu/archives/fall2021/entries/proclus/>, 2020
Proclus of Athens (*412-485 C.E.) was the most authoritative philosopher of late antiquity and pl... more Proclus of Athens (*412-485 C.E.) was the most authoritative philosopher of late antiquity and played a crucial role in the transmission of Platonic philosophy from antiquity to the Middle Ages. For almost fifty years, he was head or 'successor' (diadochos, sc. of Plato) of the Platonic 'Academy' in Athens. Being an exceptionally productive writer, he composed commentaries on Aristotle, Euclid and Plato, systematic treatises in all disciplines of philosophy as it was at that time (metaphysics and theology, physics, astronomy, mathematics, ethics) and exegetical works on traditions of religious wisdom (Orphism and Chaldaean Oracles). Proclus had a lasting influence on the development of the late Neoplatonic schools not only in Athens, but also in Alexandria, where his student Ammonius became the head of the school. In a culture dominated by Christianity, the Neoplatonic philosophers had to defend the superiority of the Hellenic traditions of wisdom. Continuing a movement that was inaugurated by Iamblichus (4 th c.) and the charismatic figure of emperor Julian, and following the teaching of Syrianus, Proclus was eager to demonstrate the harmony of the ancient religious revelations (the mythologies of Homer and Hesiod, the Orphic theogonies and the Chaldaean Oracles) and to integrate them in the philosophical tradition of Pythagoras and Plato. Towards this end, his Platonic Theology offers a magisterial summa of pagan Hellenic theology. Probably the best starting point for the study of Proclus' philosophy is the Elements of Theology (with the masterly commentary by E.R. Dodds) which provide a systematic introduction into the Neoplatonic metaphysical system.
Die philosophische Lehre des Platonismus. Die Ethik im antiken Platonismus der Kaiserzeit. Bausteine 231–252: Text, Übersetzung, Kommentar, 2020
Bibliografische Information der Deutschen Nationalbibliothek Die Deutsche Nationalbibliothek verz... more Bibliografische Information der Deutschen Nationalbibliothek Die Deutsche Nationalbibliothek verzeichnet diese Publikation in der Deutschen Nationalbibliografie; detaillierte bibliografische Daten sind im Internet über http://dnb.dnb.de abrufbar.
Received Opinions: Doxography in Antiquity and the Islamic World. Leiden, The Netherlands: Brill., 2022
What did ancient doxographical approaches towards the Presocratic Parmenides of Elea look like an... more What did ancient doxographical approaches towards the Presocratic Parmenides of Elea look like and which role did the Neoplatonist Simplicius play in this story? The paper proposes to mark off different approaches depending mainly on the authority or esteem of Parmenides in the tradition after him. On the whole, ancient authors are much more selective in interpreting their predecessors. In the case of Parmenides, the main focus of attention is the first part of his poem and, more specifically, the thesis that Being is One. While Plato in his later dialogues tries to develop Eleatic conceptions further, Aristotle seems to be convinced that Parmenides and his successors do not present us with a very coherent philosophy. From Middle Platonism onwards, we observe a tendency to bring Parmenides in agreement with Plato (Platonising reading). Writing at the close of Antiquity, Simplicius is eager to bridge the gap between Plato and Aristotle. His extensive treatment of Parmenides ultimately serves to demonstrate the essential unity (symphônia) of ancient Hellenic wisdom and especially the harmony between Plato and Aristotle.
Forms and Concepts is the first comprehensive study of the central role of concepts and concept a... more Forms and Concepts is the first comprehensive study of the central role of concepts and concept acquisition in the Platonic tradition. It sets up a stimulating dialogue between Plato s innatist approach and Aristotle s much more empirical response. The primary aim is to analyze and assess the strategies with which Platonists responded to Aristotle s (and Alexander of Aphrodisias ) rival theory. The monograph culminates in a careful reconstruction of the elaborate attempt undertaken by the Neoplatonist Proclus (6th century AD) to devise a systematic Platonic theory of concept acquisition.
World Soul – Anima Mundi. On the Origins and Fortunes of a Fundamental Idea, edited by Christoph Helmig (Topics in Ancient Philosophy, 8), Berlin / Boston: de Gruyter, 2020., 2020
There have only been very few ideas in the history of Western philosophy as influential as that o... more There have only been very few ideas in the history of Western philosophy as influential as that of the ensoulment of the world or the cosmos.1 The first explicit mention of a World Soul or soul of the all (gr. tou pantos psuchê, lat. anima mundi) can be found in Plato's Timaeus (41d), but even modern environmental activists have invoked this conception in order to argue that we must not treat the world around us as a mere object.2 It rather has the same dignity and the same rights as other living beings or even humans. This idea might be compared to several mythical traditions that speak of Mother Earth ('Mutter Erde') or Mother Nature ('Mutter Natur'). This seems to be, I am glad to say, the first collected volume on the World Soul in ancient thought.3 It has, however, not been the aim to cover all aspects of the topic, but I hope that the present volume provides a good overview of relevant debates and stimulates further research. The following pages are meant as a short introduction into theories of the World Soul in ancient, late ancient and early Christian philosophy.4
The Junior Research Group »Place, Space and Motion« investigates the role of spatial concepts in ... more The Junior Research Group »Place, Space and Motion« investigates the role of spatial concepts in physical theories in the millennium from Plato (4th century BCE) through Philoponus and Simplicius (6th century CE). In particular, we examine the explicit theoretical views of ancient physicists and philosophers concerning space, the spatial features of bodies, and the existence of isomorphisms among space, change, and time. Projects are devoted to issues in Plato's Timaeus and Aristotle's Physics, and to the interwoven reception of these texts in Middle Platonism and Late Platonism. We trace the evolving answers given to such central questions as whether space is metaphysically basic or is rather dependent upon bodies or even non-spatial entities (such as souls); the possibility of empty space; the causal role of space in nature; how spatial structures make certain kinds of change possible or necessary. The group aims to produce a series of essays and commentaries examining key texts of Plato and Aristotle and tracing the reception and transformation of their views in Middle-and Late Platonism. (b) Methods. The group engages in close reading and interpretation of ancient texts, with the aim of constructing a history of engagement with the questions indicated above. The main areas of expertise brought to bear on the relevant texts lie in classical philology, history of ideas, history of science, and systematic philosophy. In a weekly research seminar, individual research projects and results are presented in detail and discussed in the light of these varied disciplines and skill sets. (c) State of Discussion. Relevant texts are interpreted both internally and in the light of their relationships with earlier sources and later readings. In this way a narrative is emerging of development and interrelationship among ancient theories of space-a narrative with some shape and coherence, but without the suppression of details and uncertainties. The group is also beginning to pay more attention to epistemological issues, concerning the sources of theoretical knowledge about space, and the evolving standards of argument, justifi cation, and presentation of such knowledge.
The volume discusses the notion of space by focusing on the most representative exponents of the ... more The volume discusses the notion of space by focusing on the most representative exponents of the Hellenistic schools and explores the role played by spatial concepts in both coeval and later authors who, without specifically thematising these concepts, made use of them in a theoretically original way. Renowned scholars investigate the philosophical significance and bring to light the problematical character of the ancient conceptions of space.
Bonazzi, Mauro and Christoph Helmig. Platonic Stoicism - Stoic Platonism: The Dialogue between Platonism and Stoicism in Antiquity. Leuven University Press, 2008, 2008
This book examines the important but largely neglected issue of the interrelation between Platoni... more This book examines the important but largely neglected issue of the interrelation between Platonism and Stoicism in Ancient Philosophy. Several renowned specialists in the fields of Stoic and Platonic analyse the intricate mutual influences between Stoic and Platonic philosophers in the Hellenistic period, the Imperial Age, and after. Although it has been repeatedly claimed that the phenomenon addressed in this book could best be labelled eclecticism, it emerges from the various articles collected here that the situation is much more complicated. Far from being eclectics, most Stoics and Platonists consciously appropriated their material in order to integrate it into their own philosophical system. The dialogue between Platonists and Stoics testifies to active debate and controversy on central topics such as psychology, epistemology, physics, and ethics. This book will deepen our understanding of the dialogue between different philosophical schools in Antiquity. The results presented here teach one clear lesson: Platonism and Stoicism were by no means monolithic blocks, but were continuously moulded by mutual influence and interaction.
(a) Topics and Goals. The Junior Research Group »Place, Space and Motion« investigates the role o... more (a) Topics and Goals. The Junior Research Group »Place, Space and Motion« investigates the role of spatial concepts in physical theories in the millennium from Plato (4th century BCE) through Philoponus and Simplicius (6th century CE). In particular, we examine the explicit theoretical views of ancient physicists and philosophers concerning space, the spatial features of bodies, and the existence of isomorphisms among space, change, and time. Projects are devoted to issues in Plato’s Timaeus and Aristotle’s Physics, and to the interwoven reception of these texts in Middle Platonism and Late Platonism. We trace the evolving answers given to such central questions as whether space is metaphysically basic or is rather dependent upon bodies or even non-spatial entities (such as souls); the possibility of empty space; the causal role of space in nature; how spatial structures make certain kinds of change possible or necessary. The group aims to produce a series of essays and commentaries examining key texts of Plato and Aristotle and tracing the reception and transformation of their views in Middle- and Late Platonism. (b) Methods. The group engages in close reading and interpretation of ancient texts, with the aim of constructing a history of engagement with the questions indicated above. The main areas of expertise brought to bear on the relevant texts lie in classical philology, history of ideas, history of science, and systematic philosophy. In a weekly research seminar, individual research projects and results are presented in detail and discussed in the light of these varied disciplines and skill sets. (c) State of Discussion. Relevant texts are interpreted both internally and in the light of their relationships with earlier sources and later readings. In this way a narrative is emerging of development and interrelationship among ancient theories of space – a narrative with some shape and coherence, but without the suppression of details and uncertainties. The group is also beginning to pay more attention to epistemological issues, concerning the sources of theoretical knowledge about space, and the evolving standards of argument, justification, and presentation of such knowledge. Keywords: Physics • Topology • Continuity • Matter • Void • Plato’s Timaeus • Neoplatonism • Aristotelian • Commentary
d'Hoine, Pieter, and Marije Martjin (eds), All From One: A Guide to Proclus (Oxford, 2016; online edn, Oxford Academic, 19 Jan. 2017), Dec 1, 2016
For Proclus, like other Platonists, logic, epistemology, and philosophy of language are not disti... more For Proclus, like other Platonists, logic, epistemology, and philosophy of language are not distinct as a tool and parts of philosophy respectively, but are all part of dialectic. This chapter first briefly addresses Proclus’ logic, specifically the ‘rule of obversion’ ascribed to him, and his naturalist philosophy of language, and thereafter moves on to epistemology. The author discusses Proclus’ top-down psychology, where the highest faculty is the paradigm for the lower ones; the Iamblichean principle that knower determines knowledge; the essential reason-principles, or lower forms constituting the soul’s essence; Proclus’ rich notion of recollection; his solutions to two challenges to his epistemology: the knowledge of things of which there is no Form, and the use of images in cognition. Finally, in the conclusion the author assesses Proclus’ originality and discusses the fact that for late Neoplatonists knowledge is not an end in itself.
Grundriss der Geschichte der Philosophie, begründet von Friedrich Ueberweg, völlig neu bearbeitet... more Grundriss der Geschichte der Philosophie, begründet von Friedrich Ueberweg, völlig neu bearbeitete Ausgab
Dopo trent'anni dalla sua prima edizione, si offre finalmente in traduzione italiana il volume di... more Dopo trent'anni dalla sua prima edizione, si offre finalmente in traduzione italiana il volume di Stephen Gersh From Iamblichus to Eriugena: An Investigation of the Prehistory and Evolution of the Pseudo-Dionysian Tradition (1978). Il passaggio dal neoplatonismo pagano al neoplatonismo cristiano deve molto ai contributi concettuali di Giamblico e all'opera, cinque secoli dopo, di Eriugena. Questi raccolse, nel mondo latino e con categorie cristiane, l’intera eredità della riflessione degli ultimi pagani greci, attraverso la mediazione degli scritti dello Pseudo-Dionigi che rappresentano lo snodo teorico essenziale di questo lungo itinerario di transizione di idee dal mondo pagano a quello cristiano (come spiega il sottotitolo di questo libro). Da Giamblico a Eriugena ricostruisce i tratti caratteristici di questo percorso, individuando gli elementi che hanno determinato il cambiamento secondo una prospettiva diacronica. La Prefazione dell'Autore all'edizione italiana, una lunga Introduzione dei curatori e un Supplemento bibliografico aggiornato colmano la distanza critica dalla prima edizione, la cui importanza nel panorama degli studi sul neoplatonismo rimane confermata. [from the website of the publisher Pagina]
Strobel, Benedikt. Die Kunst der philosophischen Exegese bei den spätantiken Platon- und Aristoteles-Kommentatoren, Berlin, Boston: De Gruyter, 2019. , 2019
Abgerundet wird der Band durch CH. HELMIGS Beitrag zur Schlussphase
der spätantiken Platon- und ... more Abgerundet wird der Band durch CH. HELMIGS Beitrag zur Schlussphase
der spätantiken Platon- und Aristoteles-Kommentierung in der 2. Hälfte des
6. Jh., nämlich zu den eher schattenhaften Gestalten Elias resp. David und
genauer zur Frage, wer von den beiden (wenn denn überhaupt einer von ihnen)
der Verfasser des Kommentars zu den Kategorien ist, der unter Davids Namen
überliefert ist und von A. Busse Elias zugeschrieben worden ist. Helmig zeigt
auf der Grundlage einer detaillierten Untersuchung der spezifischen philosophisch-
schriftstellerischen Profile, welche Elias und David in anderen, in ihrer
Autorschaft unumstrittenen Werken erkennen lassen, dass, anders als Busse
dachte, David der Autor des Kommentars zur Kategorienschrift ist. Als Ausweis
hierfür gilt Helmig insbesondere der Umstand – und damit ist erneut die
Leitfrage nach dem Verhältnis von Platon und Aristoteles angesprochen –, dass
erstens Elias Divergenzen zwischen Platon und Aristoteles stillschweigend
übergeht und eine eher oberflächliche Harmonisierung verfolgt, während David
die Divergenzen zunächst herausarbeitet, um dann beider Positionen einander
anzunähern, sowie zweitens der Kategorien-Kommentar die für David charakteristische
Verfahrensweise im Umgang mit Unstimmigkeiten zwischen
platonischer und aristotelischer Lehre erkennen lässt. [Benedikt Strobel, Einleitung S. 7]
Im Rahmen der Reihe "Philosophie kontrovers" des Philosophischen Seminars der Universität zu Köln... more Im Rahmen der Reihe "Philosophie kontrovers" des Philosophischen Seminars der Universität zu Köln zum Thema "Redefreiheit".
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Papers by Christoph Helmig
Wiedererinnerung.
der spätantiken Platon- und Aristoteles-Kommentierung in der 2. Hälfte des
6. Jh., nämlich zu den eher schattenhaften Gestalten Elias resp. David und
genauer zur Frage, wer von den beiden (wenn denn überhaupt einer von ihnen)
der Verfasser des Kommentars zu den Kategorien ist, der unter Davids Namen
überliefert ist und von A. Busse Elias zugeschrieben worden ist. Helmig zeigt
auf der Grundlage einer detaillierten Untersuchung der spezifischen philosophisch-
schriftstellerischen Profile, welche Elias und David in anderen, in ihrer
Autorschaft unumstrittenen Werken erkennen lassen, dass, anders als Busse
dachte, David der Autor des Kommentars zur Kategorienschrift ist. Als Ausweis
hierfür gilt Helmig insbesondere der Umstand – und damit ist erneut die
Leitfrage nach dem Verhältnis von Platon und Aristoteles angesprochen –, dass
erstens Elias Divergenzen zwischen Platon und Aristoteles stillschweigend
übergeht und eine eher oberflächliche Harmonisierung verfolgt, während David
die Divergenzen zunächst herausarbeitet, um dann beider Positionen einander
anzunähern, sowie zweitens der Kategorien-Kommentar die für David charakteristische
Verfahrensweise im Umgang mit Unstimmigkeiten zwischen
platonischer und aristotelischer Lehre erkennen lässt. [Benedikt Strobel, Einleitung S. 7]
Wiedererinnerung.
der spätantiken Platon- und Aristoteles-Kommentierung in der 2. Hälfte des
6. Jh., nämlich zu den eher schattenhaften Gestalten Elias resp. David und
genauer zur Frage, wer von den beiden (wenn denn überhaupt einer von ihnen)
der Verfasser des Kommentars zu den Kategorien ist, der unter Davids Namen
überliefert ist und von A. Busse Elias zugeschrieben worden ist. Helmig zeigt
auf der Grundlage einer detaillierten Untersuchung der spezifischen philosophisch-
schriftstellerischen Profile, welche Elias und David in anderen, in ihrer
Autorschaft unumstrittenen Werken erkennen lassen, dass, anders als Busse
dachte, David der Autor des Kommentars zur Kategorienschrift ist. Als Ausweis
hierfür gilt Helmig insbesondere der Umstand – und damit ist erneut die
Leitfrage nach dem Verhältnis von Platon und Aristoteles angesprochen –, dass
erstens Elias Divergenzen zwischen Platon und Aristoteles stillschweigend
übergeht und eine eher oberflächliche Harmonisierung verfolgt, während David
die Divergenzen zunächst herausarbeitet, um dann beider Positionen einander
anzunähern, sowie zweitens der Kategorien-Kommentar die für David charakteristische
Verfahrensweise im Umgang mit Unstimmigkeiten zwischen
platonischer und aristotelischer Lehre erkennen lässt. [Benedikt Strobel, Einleitung S. 7]