Michael of Ephesus
Encyclopedia
Michael of Ephesus or Michael Ephesius (fl. early or mid-12th century AD)
wrote important commentaries on Aristotle
, including the first full commentary on the Sophistical Refutations, which established the regular study of that text.
. Together with Eustratius of Nicaea
, he was part of a circle organized by Anna Comnena. As Michael suggests at the end of his Parva Naturalia
commentary, his goal was to provide coverage of texts in the Corpus Aristotelicum
that had been neglected by earlier commentators; this was "part of a cooperative scholarly undertaking conceived and guided by Anna Comnena."
The fanciful suggestion that the Aristotelian commentator was none other than Michael VII Doukas, making good on his tuition under Michael Psellos
(who was apparently not Michael of Ephesus' teacher) and turning after his abdication to scholarship as the archbishop of Ephesus, is no longer taken seriously.
; the commentary on Metaphysics Books 7-14 attributed to Alexander is considered to be his work. Michael's commentaries draw on Neoplatonist ideas and on the exegetical tradition of Stephen of Alexandria
. At times they allude to contemporary Byzantine matters and include criticism of the emperor and of the current state of education.
may have collected texts from Michael's workshop for translation into Latin. The composite collection of commentaries including Michael's commentaries on the Nicomachean Ethics was translated into Latin by Robert Grosseteste
, and again by Giovanni Bernardo Feliciano (Venice 1541).
wrote important commentaries on Aristotle
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...
, including the first full commentary on the Sophistical Refutations, which established the regular study of that text.
Life
Little is known about Michael's life. He worked in the philosophy school of the University of ConstantinopleUniversity of Constantinople
The University of Constantinople, sometimes known as the University of the palace hall of Magnaura in the Roman-Byzantine Empire was founded in 425 under the name of Pandidakterion...
. Together with Eustratius of Nicaea
Eustratius of Nicaea
Eustratius of Nicaea was Metropolitan bishop of Nicaea in the early 12th century. He wrote commentaries to Aristotle's second book of Analytica and the Ethica Nicomachea....
, he was part of a circle organized by Anna Comnena. As Michael suggests at the end of his Parva Naturalia
Parva Naturalia
The Parva Naturalia are a collection of seven works by Aristotle, which discuss natural phenomena involving the body and the soul:* Sense and Sensibilia * On Memory...
commentary, his goal was to provide coverage of texts in the Corpus Aristotelicum
Corpus Aristotelicum
The Corpus Aristotelicum is the collection of Aristotle's works that have survived from antiquity through Medieval manuscript transmission. These texts, as opposed to Aristotle's lost works, are technical philosophical treatises from within Aristotle's school...
that had been neglected by earlier commentators; this was "part of a cooperative scholarly undertaking conceived and guided by Anna Comnena."
The fanciful suggestion that the Aristotelian commentator was none other than Michael VII Doukas, making good on his tuition under Michael Psellos
Michael Psellos
Michael Psellos or Psellus was a Byzantine monk, writer, philosopher, politician and historian...
(who was apparently not Michael of Ephesus' teacher) and turning after his abdication to scholarship as the archbishop of Ephesus, is no longer taken seriously.
Work
Michael's breadth is remarkable, and his interpretive method has been compared to that of Alexander of AphrodisiasAlexander of Aphrodisias
Alexander of Aphrodisias was a Peripatetic philosopher and the most celebrated of the Ancient Greek commentators on the writings of Aristotle. He was a native of Aphrodisias in Caria, and lived and taught in Athens at the beginning of the 3rd century, where he held a position as head of the...
; the commentary on Metaphysics Books 7-14 attributed to Alexander is considered to be his work. Michael's commentaries draw on Neoplatonist ideas and on the exegetical tradition of Stephen of Alexandria
Stephen of Alexandria
Stephen of Alexandria was a 7th century Byzantine philosopher, astronomer and teacher. He was a public lecturer in the court of Heraclius . In the manuscripts he is called the Universal Philosopher.He taught on Plato and Aristotle, and on Geometry, Arithmetic, Astronomy and Music.- Works :1...
. At times they allude to contemporary Byzantine matters and include criticism of the emperor and of the current state of education.
The commentaries: Greek texts
- On Sophistical Refutations: Commentaria in Aristotelem GraecaCommentaria in Aristotelem GraecaCommentaria 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...
II.3 - On Generation of AnimalsGeneration of AnimalsThe Generation of Animals is a text by Aristotle.-Arabic translation:...
: CAG XIV.3 - On Nicomachean EthicsNicomachean EthicsThe 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...
, books 9-10: CAG XX - On Parva Naturalia: CAG XXII.1
- On Parts of Animals, Movement of Animals, Progression of Animals: CAG XXII.2
- On Nicomachean Ethics, book 5: CAG XXII.3
- Michael's commentary on the pseudo-Aristotelian On ColorsOn ColorsOn Colors is a treatise attributed to Aristotle but sometimes ascribed to Theophrastus or Strato. The work outlines the theory that all colors are derived from mixtures of black and white...
remains unedited, and his commentary on PoliticsPolitics (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...
survives only in part.
Latin translations
James of VeniceJames of Venice
James of Venice was a significant translator of Aristotle of the twelfth century. He has been called the first systematic translator of Aristotle since Boethius. Not much is otherwise known about him....
may have collected texts from Michael's workshop for translation into Latin. The composite collection of commentaries including Michael's commentaries on the Nicomachean Ethics was translated into Latin by Robert Grosseteste
Robert Grosseteste
Robert Grosseteste or Grossetete was an English statesman, scholastic philosopher, theologian and Bishop of Lincoln. He was born of humble parents at Stradbroke in Suffolk. A.C...
, and again by Giovanni Bernardo Feliciano (Venice 1541).
English translations
- Aristotle and Michael of Ephesus on the Movement and Progression of Animals, trans. Anthony Preus, Hildesheim: Georg Olms, 1981
- Aspasius, Anonymous, Michael of Ephesus, On Aristotle: Nicomachean Ethics 8 and 9, trans. David Konstan, Duckworth, 2001