Aspasius
Encyclopedia
Aspasius was a Peripatetic philosopher. Boethius, who frequently refers to his works, says that Aspasius wrote commentaries
on most of the works of Aristotle
. The following commentaries are expressly mentioned: on De Interpretatione, the Physica
, Metaphysica
, Categoriae
, and the Nicomachean Ethics
. A portion of the commentary on the Nicomachean Ethics (books 1, 2, 4, 7, and 8) is still extant. The Greek text of this commentary has been published as Commentaria in Aristotelem Graeca
(CAG) vol. 19.1, and David Konstan has published an English translation. It is notable as the earliest extant commentary on any of Aristotle's works. From Porphyry
, who also states that Aspasius wrote commentaries on Plato
, we learn that his commentaries on Aristotle were used in the school of Plotinus
.
Albert the Great, in his commentary on Aristotle's Politics
also refers to a monograph on natural affections (Libellus de naturalibus passionibus), as written by Aspasius.
Commentaries on Aristotle
Commentaries on Aristotle refers to the great mass of literature produced, especially in the ancient and medieval world, to explain and clarify the works of Aristotle. The pupils of Aristotle were the first to comment on his writings, a tradition which was continued by the Peripatetic school...
on most of the works of Aristotle
Aristotle
Aristotle was a Greek philosopher and polymath, a student of Plato and teacher of Alexander the Great. His writings cover many subjects, including physics, metaphysics, poetry, theater, music, logic, rhetoric, linguistics, politics, government, ethics, biology, and zoology...
. The following commentaries are expressly mentioned: on De Interpretatione, the Physica
Physics (Aristotle)
The Physics of Aristotle is one of the foundational books of Western science and philosophy...
, Metaphysica
Metaphysics (Aristotle)
Metaphysics is one of the principal works of Aristotle and the first major work of the branch of philosophy with the same name. The principal subject is "being qua being", or being understood as being. It examines what can be asserted about anything that exists just because of its existence and...
, Categoriae
Categories (Aristotle)
The Categories is a text from Aristotle's Organon that enumerates all the possible kinds of thing that can be the subject or the predicate of a proposition...
, and the Nicomachean Ethics
Nicomachean Ethics
The Nicomachean Ethics is the name normally given to Aristotle's best known work on ethics. The English version of the title derives from Greek Ἠθικὰ Νικομάχεια, transliterated Ethika Nikomacheia, which is sometimes also given in the genitive form as Ἠθικῶν Νικομαχείων, Ethikōn Nikomacheiōn...
. A portion of the commentary on the Nicomachean Ethics (books 1, 2, 4, 7, and 8) is still extant. The Greek text of this commentary has been published as Commentaria in Aristotelem Graeca
Commentaria in Aristotelem Graeca
Commentaria in Aristotelem Graeca [edita consilio et auctoritate academiae litterarum Regiae Borussicae] ' is the standard collection of extant ancient Greek commentaries on Aristotle. The 23 volumes in the series were released between the years 1882 and 1909 by the publisher Reimer...
(CAG) vol. 19.1, and David Konstan has published an English translation. It is notable as the earliest extant commentary on any of Aristotle's works. From Porphyry
Porphyry (philosopher)
Porphyry of Tyre , Porphyrios, AD 234–c. 305) was a Neoplatonic philosopher who was born in Tyre. He edited and published the Enneads, the only collection of the work of his teacher Plotinus. He also wrote many works himself on a wide variety of topics...
, who also states that Aspasius wrote commentaries on Plato
Commentaries on Plato
Commentaries on Plato refers to the great mass of literature produced, especially in the ancient and medieval world, to explain and clarify the works of Plato...
, we learn that his commentaries on Aristotle were used in the school of Plotinus
Plotinus
Plotinus was a major philosopher of the ancient world. In his system of theory there are the three principles: the One, the Intellect, and the Soul. His teacher was Ammonius Saccas and he is of the Platonic tradition...
.
Albert the Great, in his commentary on Aristotle's Politics
Politics (Aristotle)
Aristotle's Politics is a work of political philosophy. The end of the Nicomachean Ethics declared that the inquiry into ethics necessarily follows into politics, and the two works are frequently considered to be parts of a larger treatise, or perhaps connected lectures, dealing with the...
also refers to a monograph on natural affections (Libellus de naturalibus passionibus), as written by Aspasius.