Product details
Biographical note
Ian Mueller was Professor of Philosophy at the University of Chicago, USA.This is the first English translation of Simplicius’ responses to Philoponus’ Against Aristotle on the Eternity of the World. The commentary is published in two volumes: Ian Mueller's previous book in the series, Simplicius: On Aristotle On the Heavens 1.2-3, and this book on 1.3-4.
Philoponus, the Christian, had argued that Aristotle’s arguments do not succeed. For all they show to the contrary, Christianity may be right that the heavens were brought into existence by the only divine being and one moment in time, and will cease to exist at some future moment. Simplicius upholds the pagan view that the heavens are eternal and divine, and argues that their eternity is shown by their astronomical movements coupled with certain principles of Aristotle.
The English translation in this volume is accompanied by a detailed introduction, extensive commentary notes and a bibliography.
Abbreviations
Introduction
Translation of the text commented on (On the Heavens 1.3, 270a12-4); outline of the commentary
Translation of the commentary
Notes
Appendix 1. The ‘fragments’ of Philoponus, Against Aristotle
Appendix 2. The ‘fragments’ of Alexander’s commentary on De Caelo
Appendix 3. On the purity of the elements
Appendix 4. The signs of the zodiac
Bibliography
Textual Questions
English-Greek Glossary
Greek-English Index
Index of Passages
(a) Passages quoted by Simplicius
(b) Early texts cited in the notes
Index of Names
(a) Names mentioned by Simplicius
Scholars cited in the Introduction and Notes to the
Translation
Subject Index
The Ancient Commentators on Aristotle series is a prestigious scholarly project, which translates into English the principal works of the Neoplatonist commentators on Aristotle. The translation in each volume is accompanied by an introduction, comprehensive commentary notes, bibliography, glossary of translated terms and a subject index.
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"One of the great scholarly achievements of our time"
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"Without any doubt, it is this enterprise of R. Sorabji which has had the greatest impact among historians of ancient philosophy."
Ilsetraut Hadot in Le Néoplatonicien Simplicius à la lumière des recherches contemporaines