Olympiodor the Younger ( dr. Greek Ὀλυμπιόδωρος ὁ Νεώτερος ; 495 - 570 ), neo-Platonist philosopher , representative of the Alexandrian school of neoplatonism, student of Ammonius, son of Hermia .
| Olympiodor Junior | |
|---|---|
| dr.-greek Ὀλύμπιόδωρος ὁ Νεώτερος | |
| Date of Birth | 495 |
| Place of Birth | |
| Date of death | 570 |
| A country | |
| School / Tradition | Alexandria |
| Direction | Neoplatonism |
| Main interests | |
| Influenced | Ammonium, son of Germany |
Olympiodor is the last philosopher of the pagan tradition of Neoplatonism in Alexandria; after his death, the Alexandrian school passed to the Christian aristotelists and was eventually transferred to Constantinople . Olympiodor headed the school in 520 , after the death of a teacher; Despite the decree of Emperor Justinian I in 529 , according to which almost all pagan philosophical schools were closed, he continued to teach and write until at least 565 (in his commentary on Aristotle's Meteorology, he mentions a comet that appeared this year). This was possible mainly due to the fact that the Alexandrian school had a more formal and educational character (than, for example, the Platonic Academy in Athens ) and refrained from participating in political life.
Content
Catharsis
Olympiodor belongs to the original discussion of catharsis, which is characteristic from the point of view of Aristotle's understanding in the general antique tradition (in the commentary on Plato 's Alcibiades I). Olympiodor distinguishes between "non-philosophical" and "philosophical" catharsis.
Non-philosophical catharsis can be the process of obtaining truth as a result of criticism or denial of the false. Philosophical catharsis is one that applies to the psychic life and makes it possible to move from its lower to higher states.
In philosophical catharsis, Olympiodor distinguishes between three types of purification.
- The first type, “ Socrato- Platonian,” is a criticism of the concepts of particular, narrow-minded (that is, usually random, unfaithful) to obtain such general concepts that are measures of truth (and distorting which are private, narrow-minded are).
- The second type is based on the understanding of catharsis as the treatment of painful conditions (in Hippocrates such treatment is understood medically, in Aristotle - psychologically). This type of catharsis is based on the cure of the disease by means that are the opposite of the disease.
- The third type is the opposite of the second and is called the Pythagorean at Olympiodor. It also deals with the treatment of painful conditions, but treatment is understood as the use in a small dose of the disease that exists in a large dose.
Olympiodor’s reasoning lacks a noological understanding of catharsis, as one would expect from a Neoplatonist. But the Alkiviad I dialogue, commented by Olympiodor, is not devoted to catharsis, but to sofrosine (prudence, doing good), and it is not about the Cosmos proper.
Works
The following works of Olympiodor are preserved:
- "Life of Plato"
- Comments on the Alcibiades of Plato
- Comments on "Gorgiyu" Plato
- Comments on Plato's Fedon
- Introduction to the "Logic" of Aristotle
- Comments on Aristotle's Meteorology
- Comments on Aristotle's Categories
Works are also attributed to Olympiodorus:
- Comments on Phileb of Plato; today it is believed that the work belongs to Damascus
- alchemical treatise on the work of Zosim Panopolissky "On Energy"
Olympiodor’s works contain nowhere else known information about Jamblichus .
Literature
The publications in the series Commentaria in Aristotelem Graeca (English translations in the series have not yet been published):
- CAG. Vol. 12 pt. 1 (1902) Olympiodor, commentary on the "Categories".
- CAG. Vol. 12 pt. 2 (1900) Olympiodor, commentary on Meteorology.
Russian translations:
- Monuments of Byzantine literature of the IV — IX centuries. / Ed. ed. L.A. Freiberg. M .: Science. 1968. p. 147.
- Olympiodor Plato's life. / Per. M. L. Gasparova. // Diogen Laertsky . On the life, teachings and sayings of famous philosophers. M .: Thought. 1979. p. 445-448.
Research:
- Losev A.F. History of ancient aesthetics. Volume VII. - M .: Art, 1988. Book. 1. P. 378. Book. 2. pp. 266-267. T. VIII. Prince 2. M., 1994. p. 481.