John Philoponus - Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia
5
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia John Philoponus (/ f ɨ ˈ l ɒ p ə n ə s/; Ancient Greek: Ἰωάννης ὁ Φιλόπονος; 490 – 570) also known as John the Grammarian or John of Alexandria, was a Christian and Aristotelian commentator and the author of a considerable number of philosophical treatises and theological works. A rigorous, sometimes polemical writer and an original thinker who was controversial in his own time, John Philoponus broke from the Aristotelian-Neoplatonic tradition, questioning methodology and eventually leading to empiricism in the natural sciences. He was posthumously condemned as a heretic by the Orthodox Church in 680-81 because of what was perceived of as a tritheistic interpretation of the Trinity. His works were widely printed in Latin translations in Europe from the 15th century onwards. His critique of Aristotle in the Physics commentary was a major influence on Giovanni Pico della Mirandola and Galileo Galilei, who cited Philoponus substantially in his works. [1] Contents 1 Life 2 Writings 2.1 Philosophical Commentaries 2.2 Theological Treaties 3 Historiographical Contribution 4 Bibliography 4.1 Works 4.2 Translations 5 See also 6 References 7 Further reading 8 External links Life Possibly born into a Christian family, nothing is known of his early life. Philoponus studied at the school of Alexandria and began publishing from about 510. He was a pupil and sometime amanuensis to the Neoplatonic philosopher Ammonius Hermiae, who had studied at Athens under Proclus. [2] Philoponus’ early writings are based on lectures given by Ammonius, but gradually he established his own independent thinking in his commentaries and critiques of Aristotle’s On the Soul and Physics. In the latter work Philoponus became one of the earliest thinkers to reject Aristotle’s dynamics and propose the ‘theory of impetus’: i.e. an object moves and continues to move because of an energy imparted in it by the mover, and ceases movement when that energy is exhausted. In this erroneous but insightful theory can be found the first step towards the concept of inertia in modern physics, although Philoponus’ theory was largely ignored at the time because he was too radical in his rejection of Aristotle. But this [view of Aristotle] is completely erroneous, and our view may be completely corroborated by actual observation more effectively than by any sort of verbal argument. For if you let fall from the same height two weights, one many times heavier than the other you will see that the ratio of the times required for the motion does not depend [solely] on the weights, but that the difference in time is very small. ... —John Philoponus' refutation of the Aristotelian claim that the elapsed time for a falling body is inversely proportional to its weight [3] In 529 Philoponus wrote his critique Against Proclus in which he systematically defeats every argument put forward for the eternity of the world, a theory which formed the basis of pagan attack of the Christian doctrine of Creation. The intellectual battle against eternalism became one of Philoponus’ major preoccupations and dominated several of his publications (some now lost) over the following decade. He introduced a new period of scientific thought based heavily on three premises: 1) The universe is a product of one single God, 2) the heavens and the earth have the same physical properties, 3) and the stars are not divine. [4] With these principles Philoponus went after his rival, Simplicius of Cilicia, by questioning Aristotle's' view of dynamics and cosmology. [4] He argued that motion can occur in a void and that the velocity of a falling object is not based on its weight. [4] He also held that God created all matter with its physical properties and with natural laws that would allow matter to progress from a state of chaos to an organized state forming the present universe. [4] What remains of his writings indicate that he used the same didactic methods of reasoning that modern science uses and that he performed genuine experiments. [4] John Philoponus - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Philoponus 1 of 5 2/10/2014 8:36 PM
description
Philoponus
Transcript of John Philoponus - Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
John Philoponus (/fɨˈlɒpənəs/; Ancient Greek: Ἰωάννης ὁ Φιλόπονος; 490 – 570) also known as John the Grammarian or John ofAlexandria, was a Christian and Aristotelian commentator and the author of a considerable number of philosophical treatises andtheological works. A rigorous, sometimes polemical writer and an original thinker who was controversial in his own time, JohnPhiloponus broke from the Aristotelian-Neoplatonic tradition, questioning methodology and eventually leading to empiricism in thenatural sciences.
He was posthumously condemned as a heretic by the Orthodox Church in 680-81 because of what was perceived of as a tritheisticinterpretation of the Trinity.
His works were widely printed in Latin translations in Europe from the 15th century onwards. His critique of Aristotle in the Physicscommentary was a major influence on Giovanni Pico della Mirandola and Galileo Galilei, who cited Philoponus substantially in his
works.[1]
Contents
1 Life2 Writings
2.1 Philosophical Commentaries2.2 Theological Treaties
3 Historiographical Contribution4 Bibliography
4.1 Works4.2 Translations
5 See also6 References7 Further reading8 External links
Life
Possibly born into a Christian family, nothing is known of his early life. Philoponus studied at the school of Alexandria and beganpublishing from about 510. He was a pupil and sometime amanuensis to the Neoplatonic philosopher Ammonius Hermiae, who had
studied at Athens under Proclus.[2]
Philoponus’ early writings are based on lectures given by Ammonius, but gradually he established his own independent thinking in hiscommentaries and critiques of Aristotle’s On the Soul and Physics. In the latter work Philoponus became one of the earliest thinkers toreject Aristotle’s dynamics and propose the ‘theory of impetus’: i.e. an object moves and continues to move because of an energyimparted in it by the mover, and ceases movement when that energy is exhausted. In this erroneous but insightful theory can be foundthe first step towards the concept of inertia in modern physics, although Philoponus’ theory was largely ignored at the time because hewas too radical in his rejection of Aristotle.
But this [view of Aristotle] is completely erroneous, and our view may be completely corroborated by actual observationmore effectively than by any sort of verbal argument. For if you let fall from the same height two weights, one many timesheavier than the other you will see that the ratio of the times required for the motion does not depend [solely] on theweights, but that the difference in time is very small. ... —John Philoponus' refutation of the Aristotelian claim that the
elapsed time for a falling body is inversely proportional to its weight [3]
In 529 Philoponus wrote his critique Against Proclus in which he systematically defeats every argument put forward for the eternity ofthe world, a theory which formed the basis of pagan attack of the Christian doctrine of Creation. The intellectual battle againsteternalism became one of Philoponus’ major preoccupations and dominated several of his publications (some now lost) over thefollowing decade.
He introduced a new period of scientific thought based heavily on three premises: 1) The universe is a product of one single God, 2) the
heavens and the earth have the same physical properties, 3) and the stars are not divine.[4] With these principles Philoponus went after
his rival, Simplicius of Cilicia, by questioning Aristotle's' view of dynamics and cosmology.[4] He argued that motion can occur in a void
and that the velocity of a falling object is not based on its weight.[4] He also held that God created all matter with its physical properties
and with natural laws that would allow matter to progress from a state of chaos to an organized state forming the present universe.[4]
What remains of his writings indicate that he used the same didactic methods of reasoning that modern science uses and that he
performed genuine experiments.[4]
John Philoponus - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Philoponus
1 of 5 2/10/2014 8:36 PM
The style of his commentaries and his conclusions made Philoponus unpopular with his colleagues and fellow philosophers, and heappears to have ceased his study of philosophy around 530, devoting himself to theology instead. Around 550 he wrote a theologicalwork On the Creation of the World as a commentary on the Bible’s story of creation using the insights of Greek philosophers and Basilthe Great. In this work he transfers his theory of impetus to the motion of the planets, whereas Aristotle had proposed differentexplanations for the motion of heavenly bodies and for earthly projectiles. Thus Philoponus’ theological work is recognized in thehistory of science as the first attempt at a unified theory of dynamics. Another of his major theological concerns was to argue that allmaterial objects were brought into being by God (Arbiter, 52A-B). Around 553 Philoponus made some theological contributions to theCouncil of Constantinople concerning Christology. His doctrine on Christ’s duality, according to which in Christ remain two unitedsubstances, united but divided, is analogous to the union of the soul and body in human beings and coincides with the miaphysite schoolof thought. He also produced writings on the Trinity around this time.
After his death, John Philoponus was declared to have held heretical views of the Trinity and was made anathema in 680-1. This limitedthe spread of his ideas in the following centuries, but in his own time and afterwards he was translated into Syriac and Arabic, and manyof his works continued to persevere and be studied by the Arabs. Some of his works continued to circulate in Europe in Greek or Latinversions, and influenced Bonaventure. The theory of impetus was taken up by Buridan in the 14th century.
Writings
John Philoponus wrote at least 40 works on a wide array of subjects including grammar, mathematics, physics, chemistry, and theology.
On words with different meanings in virtue of a difference of accent (De vocabulis quae diversum significatum exhibent
secundum differentiam accentus)[5]
Commentary on Aristotle's ‘On Generation and Corruption[6]
Commentary on Aristotle's De Anima’[7]
Commentary on Aristotle's Categories’[8]
Commentary on Aristotle's Prior Analytics’[9]
Commentary on Aristotle's Posterior Analytics’[10]
Commentary on Aristotle's Physics[11][12][13][14][15] Philoponus' most important commentary, in which he challenges Aristotleon time, space, void, matter and dynamics.On the Eternity of the World against Proclus (De aeternitate mundi contra Proclum (http://www.archive.org/details
/ioannesphiloponu00philuoft))[16]
On the Eternity of the World against Aristotle (De aeternitate mundi contra Aristotelem)[17] A refutation of Aristotle's doctrinesof the fifth element and the eternity of motion and time, consisting of at least eight books.
Commentary on Aristotle's ‘Meteorology’[18]
On the Contingency of the World (De contingentia mundi)[19][20]
On the Use and Construction of the Astrolabe[21] The oldest extant Greek treatise on the astrolabe.
Commentary on Nicomachus' Introduction to Arithmetic[22]
On the Creation of the World (De opificio mundi)[23] A theological-philosophical commentary on the Creation story in the Bookof Genesis.
Arbiter (Diaitêtês)[24][25] A philosophical justification of monophysitism. Not extant in Greek; Syriac text with Latin trans.
On the Trinity (De trinitate)[26] The main source for a reconstruction of Philoponus' trinitarian doctrine.
Philosophical Commentaries
The commentaries of the late antiquity and early Middle Ages aimed to teach audience. In that regard, the repetitive nature ofPhiloponus’ commentaries demonstrates his pedagogical awareness. Although in the abstract manner, Philoponus is chiefly focused onthe concept in question.
Most of Philoponus’ early philosophical works strive to define the distinction between matter, extension, place and various kinds ofchange. For example, the commentary Against Aristotle on the Eternity of the World represents a standardized description of
Aristotelian natural philosophy.[27] Both Aristotle and Philoponus argue that in kinds of change there are differences, in their form andmatter.
In Physics, Aristotle operates with the idea of places, but dismisses the existence of space. The idea that came from Plato and wasdeveloped by Aristotle has been evolved by Philoponus. Philoponus attempts to combine the idea of homogeneous space with the
Aristotelian system.[28] The argument made by Philoponus is that substances by themselves require some determinate quantity for theirbeing. Similarly to Aristotle, who rejected the immaterial things,and in contrast to Plato whose metaphysics accepted immaterialsubstances, Philoponus’ concept of substance refers to the material objects.
Concerning the discussion of space, Philoponus’ claim that from every point in space is possible to draw identical figures, made him beperceived as an innovative thinker who influenced later Renaissance scholars, for instance, Gianfranceso Pico della Mirandola andGalileo Galilei. Thus, Philoponus' idea of perspective signifies the concept of space as immaterial three-dimensional medium in which
objects are located.[28]
John Philoponus - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Philoponus
2 of 5 2/10/2014 8:36 PM
In the third book of De Anima, entitled De Intellectu, Philoponus analyzes the doctrine of the intellect. The author (Philoponus or
pseudo-Philoponus?) sets the theory on the role and functioning of the active intellect.[29] On one hand, there is the active intellect, andon the other, the idea of perception awareness or how we are aware that we are perceiving. In other words, in this reflective philosophy,there is a rationalist conclusion which emphasizes a relation between self and truth which leads to the discussion of the nature ofknowledge. According to this view, the knowledge is identical to its object, since the self-awareness of perception is divorced from theirrational soul.Therefore, the understanding arises through the identification of the intellect and its object. More specifically, perception
deals only with material things.[30]
Philoponus has raised the central question of the scientific and philosophical Aristotle’s work on chemistry. The work called OnGeneration and Corruption examines the question of how is the mixture (chemical combination) possible? Philoponus’ contribution tothe topic is in his new definition of potential, the third of the seven elements criteria. There are various interpretations of the theory ofmixture, but it seems that Philoponus is rather refining Aristotle’s approach than rejecting it. One of interpreters of Philophonus’ work
on the theory of mixture, De Haas, implies that “no element can possess a quality essential to it except to a superlative extent”.[31][32]
Theological Treaties
Philoponus’ major Christological work is Arbiter. The work was written shortly before the Second Council of Constantinople of 553.[33]
It became famous in regard to its doctrine on resurrection. Similarly to ideas presented in Physics, Philoponus in the work titled Arbiter
states that our corrupted bodies (material things) will be eventually brought into being (matter and form) by God.[34]
Historiographical Contribution
Relation to Contemporaries
John Philoponus’ Christological “opus magnum” stands in the line with St. Cyril of Alexandria and Severus of Antioch.[34] Philoponusasserted the understanding of Christ as a divine and a human, in opposition to Chalcedonian authors who strove to reach a middleground.
Influence on Later History Writing
Philoponus’ view of space as homogeneity is influenced by the Hellenic teaching of Aristotle. However, Philoponus and his
contemporaries, Simplicius of Cilicia and Strato developed this concept further.[28] This concept guided the Renaissance theory ofperspective, particularly the one highlighted by Leon Battista Alberti, and other architectural masters.
Bibliography
Works
On words with different meanings in virtue of a difference of accent (De vocabulis quae diversum significatum exhibentsecundum differentiam accentus), ed. L.W. Daly, American Philosophical Society Memoirs 151, Philadelphia: AmericanPhilosophical Society, 1983.Commentary on Aristotle's ‘On Generation and Corruption’, ed. H. Vitelli, Commentaria in Aristotelem Graeca (henceforwardCAG) XIV 2, Berlin: Reimer, 1897.Commentary on Aristotle's ‘De Anima’ ed. M. Hayduck, CAG XV, Berlin: Reimer, 1897.Commentary on Aristotle's ‘Categories’, ed. A. Busse, CAG XIII 1, Berlin: Reimer, 1898.Commentary on Aristotle's ‘Prior Analytics’, ed. M. Wallies, CAG XIII 2, Berlin: Reimer, 1905.Commentary on Aristotle's ‘Posterior Analytics’, ed. M. Wallies, CAG XIII 3, Berlin: Reimer, 1909.Commentary on Aristotle's ‘Physics’, ed. H. Vitelli, CAG XVI-XVII, Berlin: Reimer, 1887?88.Commentary on Aristotle's ‘Meteorology’, ed. M. Hayduck, CAG XIV 1, Berlin: Reimer, 1901.Commentary on Nicomachus' Introduction to Arithmetic, ed. R. Hoche, Part I/II Wesel: A. Bagel, 1864/65, Part III Berlin:Calvary, 1867.On the Eternity of the World against Proclus (De aeternitate mundi contra Proclum), ed. H. Rabe, Leipzig: B.G. Teubner, 1899;repr. Hildesheim: Olms, 1984.On the Eternity of the World against Aristotle (De aeternitate mundi contra Aristotelem), not extant; fragments reconstr. andtrans. C. WildbergOn the Creation of the World (De opificio mundi), ed. W. Reichardt, Leipzig: Teubner, 1897.Arbiter (Diaitêtês text with Latin trans. A. Sanda, Opuscula monophysitica Ioannis Philoponi, Beirut: Typographia CatholicaPP.Soc.Jesu., 1930.
Translations
On Aristotle's Physics 2, trans. A.R. Lacey, London: Duckworth, 1993.On Aristotle's Physics 3, trans. M. Edwards, London: Duckworth, 1994.Corollaries on Place and Void, trans. D. Furley, London: Duckworth, 1991.Against Aristotle on the Eternity of the World, London: Duckworth, 1987.
John Philoponus - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Philoponus
3 of 5 2/10/2014 8:36 PM
More translations are listed here (http://www.kcl.ac.uk/content/1/c6/04/18/13/vols-auth.pdf)
See also
Byzantine science
References
^ B. Mitrovic: Leon Batista Alberti and the Homogenity ofSpace,in The Journal of the Society of Architectural Historians,vol 63, No 4,(2004),p.424-439).
1.
^ Chisholm 1911.2.^ Morris R. Cohen and I.E. Drabkin, (eds. 1958) A Source Bookin Greek Science p.220, with several changes. Cambridge, MA:Harvard University Press, as referenced by David C. Lindberg(1992) The Beginnings of Western Science: The EuropeanScientific Tradition in Philosophical, Religious, and InstitutionalContext, 600 B.C. to A.D. 1450 University of Chicago Pressp.305 ISBN 0-226-48231-6
Note the influence of Philoponus' statement on Galileo(1638) Two New Sciences
3.
^ a b c d e David C. Lindberg (15 March 1980), Science in theMiddle Ages (http://books.google.com/books?id=lOCriv4rSCUC&pg=PA11), University of ChicagoPress, pp. 11–, ISBN 978-0-226-48233-0, retrieved 12 January2013
4.
^ Ed. L.W. Daly, American Philosophical Society Memoirs 151,Philadelphia: American Philosophical Society 1983
5.
^ Ed. H. Vitelli Commentaria in Aristotelem Graeca XIV BerlinReimer, 1897
6.
^ Ed. M. Hayduck,Commentaria in Aristotelem Graeca XVBerlin Reimer 1897
7.
^ Ed. A. Busse,Commentaria in Aristotelem Graeca XIII BerlinReimer, 1898
8.
^ Ed. M. Wallies,Commentaria in Aristotelem Graeca XIII BerlinReimer 1905
9.
^ Ed. M. WalliesCommentaria in Aristotelem Graeca XIII BerlinReimer 1909
10.
^ Ed. H. Vitelli Commentaria in Aristotelem Graeca XVI-XVIIBerlin Reimer 1887
11.
^ A.R. Lacey Philoponus On Aristotle's Physics LondonDuckworth 1993
12.
^ M. Edwards Philoponus, On Aristotle's Physics LondonDuckworth 1994
13.
^ P. Lettinck Philoponus, On Aristotle's Physics LondonDuckworth 1993
14.
^ D. Furley Philoponus, Corollaries on Place and Void LondonDuckworth 1991
15.
^ Ed. H. Rabe, Leipzig: B.G. Teubner 1899 repr. Hildesheim:Olms, 1984.
16.
^ C. Wildberg Philoponus, Against Aristotle on the Eternity ofthe World London: Duckworth, 1987.
17.
^ Ed. M. HayduckCommentaria in Aristotelem Graeca XIVBerlin Reimer, 1901.
18.
^ S. Pines, An Arabic summary of a lost work of JohnPhiloponus, Israel Oriental Studies 2 1972 pg 320-52;
19.
^ Excerpts in Simplicius D. Furley, C. Wildberg, Philoponus,Corollaries on Place and Void with Simplicius, AgainstPhiloponus on the Eternity of the World London: Duckworth,1991, pp. 95-141.
20.
^ Trans. into English H.W. Green in R.T. Gunther The Astrolabesof the World Oxford, 1932, repr. London: Holland Press, 1976,pp. 61-81.
21.
^ Ed. R. Hoche, Part I/II Wesel: A. Bagel, 1864/65, Part III Berlin:Calvary, 1867.
22.
^ Ed. W. Reichardt, Leipzig: Teubner, 189723.^ A. Sanda,Opuscula monophysitica Ioannis Philoponi Beirut:Typographia Catholica PP.Soc.Jesu., 1930
24.
^ W. Böhm Johannes Philoponos, Grammatikos von AlexandrienMünchen, Paderborn, Wien Schöningh, 1967, pp.414-29.
25.
^ A. Van Roey, Les fragments trithéites de Jean PhiloponOrientalia Lovaniensia Periodica 11 1980 pg 135-63.
26.
^ Pearson, C. , John Philoponus, On Aristotle’s One Coming toBe and Perishing 1.1-5 and 1.6-2.4. (book review). Early Scienceand Medicine vol. 4 (2004),p. 424-439
27.
^ a b c Mitrovic, B. Leon Batista Alberti and the Homogeneity ofSpace. The Journal of the Society of Architectural Historians,vol. 63, Number 4 (2004),p. 424-439
28.
^ Lautner, Peter (1992). "Philoponus, in De Anima III: Quest foran Author". The Classical Quarterly. New Series 42 (2):510–522. ISSN 0009-8388 (//www.worldcat.org/issn/0009-8388).JSTOR 639426 (//www.jstor.org/stable/639426).
29.
^ Hubler, N. The Perils of Self-Perception: Explanations ofAppreciation in the Greek Commentaries on Aristotle. TheReview of Metaphysics, vol. 59, Number 2,p. 287-311
30.
^ De Haas, in Wood & Weisberg, 200431.^ Wood, R. & Weisberg, M. Interpreting Aristotle on mixture:problems about elemental composition from Philoponus toCooper. Studies in History and Philosophy of Science, vol.35(2004), p. 681-706
32.
^ Translated and edited by A. Sandra in 193033.^ a b Lang, U. M. (1997). "Nicetas Choniates, a NeglectedWitness to the Greek Text of John Philoponus' Arbiter"(http://jts.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/reprint/48/2/540). The Journal ofTheological Studies 48 (2): 540–548. ISSN 0022-5185(//www.worldcat.org/issn/0022-5185).
34.
Attribution
Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Philoponus, Joannes". Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press
Further reading
Gleede, Benjamin, Platon und Aristoteles in der Kosmologie des Proklos. Ein Kommentar zu den 18 Argumenten für dieEwigkeit der Welt bei Johannes Philoponos (Tübingen, Mohr Siebeck, 2009) (Studien und Texte zu Antike und Christentum /Studies and Texts in Antiquity and Christianity, 54).Grant, E. Much Ado about Nothing: theories of space and vacuum from the Middle Ages to the scientific revolution (Cambridge,1981).Grant, E. A History of Natural Philosophy: from the ancient world to the nineteenth century (Cambridge, 2007).Jammer, M. Concepts of Space: The History of Theories of Space in Physics (Mineola, NY, 1993), 53-94.Jammer, Max (1993). "The Emancipation of the Space concept from Aristotelianism". Concepts of Space: The History ofTheories of Space in Physics. Courier Dover Publications. pp. 53–94. ISBN 0-486-27119-6.Lang, Uwe Michael (2001). John Philoponus and the Controversies Over Chalcedon in the Sixth Century: A Study and
John Philoponus - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Philoponus
4 of 5 2/10/2014 8:36 PM
Translation of the Arbiter. Spicilegium Sacrum Lovaniense 47, Peeters.MacCoull, Leslie S. B., "Aristophanes in Philoponus: Did he get the joke?" Jahrbuch der Österreichischen Byzantinistik, 57,2007,Scholten, Clemens, "Welche Seele hat der Embryo? Johannes Philoponos und die Antike Embryologie," Vigiliae Christianae,59,4 (2005), 377-411.Sorabji, Richard (1993). Philoponus and the Rejection of Aristotelian Science. Cornell University Press.
External links
Biography in the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/philoponus/)
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=John_Philoponus&oldid=591991710"Categories: 5th-century births 6th-century deaths 5th-century Christians 6th-century Christians 5th-century philosophers6th-century philosophers Christian philosophers Byzantine philosophers Commentators on Aristotle6th-century Byzantine people
This page was last modified on 23 January 2014 at 07:29.Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License; additional terms may apply. By using this site,you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.Wikipedia® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization.
John Philoponus - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Philoponus
5 of 5 2/10/2014 8:36 PM
