Physics Book 4 is one of Aristotle's most interesting works, discussing place, time and vacuum. Themistius was a fourth-century AD orator and essayist, not only a philosopher, and he thought that only paraphrases of Aristotle were needed, because there were already such comprehensive commentaries. Nonetheless, his paraphrastic commentaries are full of innovative comment. According to Aristotle, there is no such thing as 3-dimensional space. A thing's exactly-fitting place is a surface, the inner surface of its immediate surroundings. One problem that this created was that the outermost stars, in Aristotle's view, have no surroundings, and so no place. Themistius suggests that we might think instead of the neighbouring bodies which they surround as providing their place. Aristotle saw time as something countable, and concluded that it depends for its existence on that of conscious beings to do the counting. Themistius is in the minority among commentators in disagreeing. Themistius concurs with Aristotle in denying the existence of vacuum. We cannot think that a space formerly empty of body penetrates right through a body inserted into it. If one extension could penetrate another, says Themistius, a body could penetrate a body, because bodies occupy places solely in virtue of being extended.

Themistius: On Aristotle Physics 4 (Ancient Commentators on Aristotle)

Politics & Social Sciences

Themistius

Philosophy

Bristol Classical Press

Themistius' treatment of Books 5-8 of Aristotle's Physics shows this commentator's capacity to identify, isolate and discuss the core ideas in Aristotle's account of change, his theory of the continuum, and his doctrine of the unmoved mover. His paraphrase offered his ancient students, as they will now offer his modern readers, an opportunity to encounter central features of Aristotle's physical theory, synthesized and epitomized in a manner that has always marked Aristotelian exegesis but was raised to a new level by the innovative method of paraphrase pioneered by Themistius. Taking selective but telling account of the earlier Peripatetic tradition (notably Theophrastus and Alexander of Aphrodisias), this commentator creates a framework that can still be profitably used by Aristotlian scholars today.

Themistius: On Aristotle Physics 5-8 (Ancient Commentators on Aristotle)

Literature & Fiction

History & Criticism

Themistius' treatment of Books 1-3 of Aristotle's Physics presents central features of Aristotle's thought about principles, causation, change and infinity. The tradition of synthesising and epitomising exegesis is here raised to a new level by the innovative method of paraphrase pioneered by Themistius. Taking selective, but telling, account of the earlier Peripatetic and Presocratic tradition, Themistius creates a framework that can still be profitably used in the study of Aristotle. This book will be of interest to all students of ancient and medieval philosophy, history and philosophy of science.

Themistius: On Aristotle Physics 1-3 (Ancient Commentators on Aristotle)

Themistius ran his own philosophical school in Constantinople in the middle of the fourth century A.D. His paraphrases of Aristotle's writings are unlike the elaborate commentaries produced by Alexander of Aphrodisias, or the later Neoplatonists Simplicius and Philoponus. His aim was to provide a clear and independent restatement of Aristotle's text which would be accessible as an elementary exegesis. But he also discusses important philosophical problems, reports and disagrees with other commentaries including the lost commentary of Porphyry, and offers interpretations of Plato. Themistius' paraphrase of Aristotle's On the Soul is his most important and influential work. It is also the first extant commentary on this work of Aristotle to survive from antiquity. A rival to that of Alexander of Aphrodisias, it represents one of the main interpretations of Aristotle's theory of the intellect, which was debated throughout the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. It continues to be an important text for the reconstruction of Aristotle's philosophical psychology today.

On Aristotle's "on the Soul 1-2.4" (Ancient Commentators on Aristotle)

NCROL

Themisti Philosophi, Euphradae Ab Eloquentia Dicti, Orationes Sex Augustales (Latin Edition)

This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the original. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions that are true to the original work.

Themisti Philosophi, Euphradae Ab Eloquentia Dicti, Orationes Sex Augustales (1605) (Latin Edition)

Remo, Georgio

Schonfeld, Johann

Literary

Kessinger Publishing

Kessinger Pub

Themistii Orationes Ex Codice Mediolanensi (Latin Edition)

History

Nabu Press

Themistii Paraphrases Aristotelis Librorum Quae Supersunt, Volume 1 (Latin Edition)

Von Spengel, Leonhard

Themisti Philosophi, Euphradae Ab Eloquentia Dicti, Orationes Sex Augustales (1605)

Religion & Spirituality

New Age & Spirituality

Kessinger Publishing, LLC

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