Description
Book SynopsisThis book provides a collection of sources, many of them fragmentary and previously scattered and hard to access, for the development of Peripatetic philosophy in the later Hellenistic period and the early Roman Empire. It also supplies the background against which the first commentator on Aristotle from whom extensive material survives, Alexander of Aphrodisias (fl. c. AD 200), developed his interpretations which continue to be influential even today. Many of the passages are here translated into English for the first time, including the whole of the summary of Peripatetic ethics attributed to ''Arius Didymus''.
Trade Review'An excellent collection that will help to transform the study of later ancient philosophy. With comprehensive mastery of the widely scattered evidence, Sharples has selected, translated and annotated the most important sources for Aristotle's school during this crucial period, thereby enabling a greatly improved understanding not just of Aristotle's own legacy, but also of later Platonism, Stoic philosophy and other intellectual developments in late antiquity. This sourcebook will be a vital resource for teaching and research for years to come.' Brad Inwood, University of Toronto
'During the four centuries 200 BC–AD 200 foundations for the invention of Aristotelianism were being laid. The evidence for this important development, hitherto quite scattered and obscure, can now be thoroughly studied through the translations and discussions Professor Sharples provides in this splendid source book. By organizing the material under the headings of logic and ontology, ethics, and physics, he has made it possible to get a clear grasp of the principal themes and philosophical issues of this Peripatetic tradition. His book is a major achievement.' A. A. Long, University of California, Berkeley
Table of ContentsIntroduction; 1. People; 2. The rediscovery of Aristotle's works?; 3. A Hellenistic account of Aristotle's philosophy; 4. Philosophy and rhetoric; 5. The starting-point and parts of philosophy; 6. Commentaries: logic and ontology; 7. The categories: (i) placement and title; 8. The categories: (ii) words or things or words as signifying things?; 9. The categories: (iii) per se and relative: ten categories or two?; 10. The categories: (iv) time and place; 11. On interpretation; 12. Ontology: form and matter; 13. Logic; 14. Theory of knowledge. Ethics; 15. An account of Peripatetic ethics: Stobaeus, 'doxography C'; 16. Emotions; 17. The primary natural things: oikeiōsis; 18. Bodily and external goods and happiness. Physics; 19. The nature of time and place; 20. The eternity of the world; 21. The heavens; 22. God and providence; 23. Fate, choice and what depends on us; 24. Soul; 25. Generation; 26. Sensation; 27. Intellect; Bibliography; Index of sources; Index of passages cited; Index of personal names (ancient); General index.
