Aristotle’s Criticism of Plato’s ‘Timaeus’

157 Pages·1954·6.05 MB·English

by  George S. Claghorn (auth.)

ARISTOTLE'S CRITICISM OF PLATO'S 'TIMAEUS'
TO MY FATHER AND MOTHER
ARISTOTLE'S CRITICISM
OF PLATO'S 'TIMAEUS'
BY
GEORGES.CLAGHORN
THE HAGUE
MARTINUS NljHOFF
1954
ISBN-13: 978-94-011-8190-7 e-ISBN-13: 978-94-011-8839-5
DOl: 10.1007/978-94-011-8839-5
Copyright I954 by Martinus Nijhoff, The Hague, Netherlands
All rights reserved, including the right to translate or to
reproduce this book or parts thereof in any form.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
It has indeed been a privilege for me to receive, throughout
the preparation of this study, the sound criticism and sagacious
counsel of Professor Glenn R. Morrow, of the University of
Pennsylvania. The attainment of his high standards is the goal
for which I have striven; if in any respects I have fallen short,
the responsibility is fully mine. Dr. Morrow's kindness has been
unfailing. His clear insight into the subtleties of Greek thought
has been a continuing challenge and inspiration. To him, therefore,
I offer my deepest appreciation.
Professor Francis P. Clarke and Professor Paul Schrecker, also
of the Department of Philosophy, University of Pennsylvania,
carefully perused the manuscript and made many helpful
suggestions. Others - professors, students, and friends - have
generously shared in this work, by stimulating my thinking and
by lending practical assistance. With cheerful efficiency, Mrs.
Bernard Liedman typed the manuscript, Jack Lottey checked
the proofs, and Anthony J. Mattes prepared the indexes. To one
and all, I extend my sincere gratitude.
The following publishers have kindly granted permission to
quote from their books: Harvard University Press (from The
Loeb Classical Library: Plato, Timaeus, Critias, Cleitophon,
Menexenus, Epistles, tr. by R. G. Bury; Diogenes Laertius,
Lives and Opinions 0/ the Philosophers, tr. by R. D. Hicks).
Oxford University Press, Inc. (from The Works 0/ Aristotle
Translated into English, ed. by W. D. Ross; and The Works 0/
Plato, tr. by Benjamin Jowett). Random House, Inc. (from The
Complete Greek Drama, ed. by Oates and O'Neill). Whenever a
quotation is made in the present work, the source is given.
This study is sent forth in the hope that it may contribute to a
better understanding of both the natural science and the general
thought of Plato and Aristotle.
St. Davids, Pa., U. S. A. G.S.C.
May IS, 1954
TABLE OF CONTENTS
I. INTRODUCTION • • • • • • • I
The Problem . . . . . . . . I
The Importance of the Timaeus I
Modern scholarship and the relation of Aristotle to
Plato . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Chronology to be used . . . . . . . . . . 3
Sources and method of examining them. . . 4
II. ARISTOTLE'S CRITICISM OF THE RECEPTACLE 5
Plato's 'Receptacle'; Aristotle's 'matter' . . 5
Identification of the two by means of the gold analogy 7
Other similarities between the two 9
Both are Non-being . . . 9
Both are unintelligible. . 10
Both are full of potencies I I
Both are infinite . . . . II
Both are Great and Small. 12
Both are extended 13
Not empty space (the void) 14
Space as contained and container 15
Summary of the chapter . . . . 18
III. ARISTOTLE'S CRITICISM OF THE SIMPLE BODIES. 20
History of the term 'Element' 20
Plato's view of the simple bodies. 22
The four earthly bodies. . . 22
Construction of plane-figures . 23
Meaning of plane-figures . . . 26
Aristotle's view of the elements 27
Plato and Aristotle on the meaning and value of
mathematical analysis .......... 28
Aristotle's criticisms of planes and plane-figures . 31
Summary of the chapter . . . . . . . . . .. 36
x TABLE OF CONTENTS
IV. ARISTOTLE'S CRITICISM OF QUALITIES 39
Definition of 'quality' . . 39
Plato's treatment of qualities 39
Aristotle's treatment of qualities. 45
General criticisms of Plato's views 47
The problem of weight. 50
Aristotle's doctrine (natural places, absolute direc-
tions, weight). . 50
Plato's doctrine (natural places, relative directions,
weight). 51
Aristotle's criticisms of weight. . 52
Summary of the chapter . 58
V. ARISTOTLE'S CRITICISM OF MOTION 60
Motions and their causes (Plato) 60
Motions and their causes (Aristotle) 65
The motion of the earth in the Timaeus 71
c:LMO!J.SV'Y)V and its support. 71
tMO!J.SV'Y)V and its support . . 73
The position of the earth, a related question 78
Possible interpretations 79
The earth at rest . 79
The earth in motion (kinds) 79
Summary of the chapter 82
VI. ARISTOTLE'S CRITICISM OF TIME 84
'Time' in the Timaeus 84
'Time' in Aristotle 86
Aristotle's criticisms 88
Similarities between the two views 90
The problem of whether Time began 92
Summary of the chapter 97
VII. ARISTOTLE'S CRITICISM OF SOUL 99
The intermediate character of myth 99
Mythical nature of the Timaeus 100
Value of myth 100
The problem of soul. 101
Plato's general view of soul 101
Living Creature and World-soul 102
Human soul 105
TABLE OF CONTENTS Xl
Aristotle's general view of soul . . 106
Aristotle's criticisms of soul loB
World-soul and the Unmoved Mover II2
World-soul and God II4
God as Demiurge . . . . . . . . . II7
God as Cause ......... . II8
VIII. ARISTOTLE'S CRITICISM OF 'NATURE' . 121
'Nature' to the Pre-Socratics 121
'Nature' to Plato . . . . . 122
'Nature' to Aristotle 125
Teleology in Plato's doctrine 127
In Aristotle's ..... . 129
Plato, Aristotle, and their predecessors II3
Plato and Aristotle compared on doctrines 133
Conclusion 135
BIBLIOGRAPHY • 137
INDEX OF PASSAGES IN ARISTOTLE AND PLATO. 141
GENERAL INDEX • • • . • • • . • • • • • . 146
CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this study is to determine Aristotle's attitude
toward the content and method of Plato's natural science.
Plato and Aristotle have often been regarded as on opposite
sides of a philosophic 'Great Divide'. On the other hand, those
who have found that the two men were in agreement have
sometimes mentioned only scattered instances of that agreement.
There is need for a new comparison of the two philosophers -
one which is limited in scope, based on the primary texts, and
which is systematic and thorough in method. If successful, such a
comparison would bring into sharp focus one phase of Aristotle's
comments on Plato. Our attempt to meet this need is Aristotle's
Criticism of Plato's TIMAEUS. In pursuing this study, it has been
necessary to reject a number of uncritically-accepted interpre
tations of the Timaeus. Contrary to the view of many, we have
concluded that Aristotle largely agreed with Plato, both in the
principles and presuppositions of his natural science.
A number of implications stem from this study. There is, for
example, the oft-questioned manner in which Aristotle treated
Plato's philosophy. In the great majority of instances, Aristotle
stands forth as a reliable reporter and a skilled critic. Moreover,
the study sheds light on that ancient riddle: whether Plato and
Aristotle are basically akin or at odds in their general philosophies.
Finally, it is hoped that this study may provide useful suggestions
for the evaluation of commentaries on the Timaeus, and for the
appraisal of the various schools of interpretation which they
represent.
The Timaeus is a significant dialogue to use as a basis for com
paring viewpoints. It is the only dialogue of Plato completely
devoted to what we call 'natural science'. And it is the Platonic
dialogue to which Aristotle refers more often than any other.
2 ARISTOTLE'S CRITICISM OF PLATO'S TIMAEUS
Moreover, the place of the Timaeus is secure in the mainstream of
Western thought. Throughout antiquity, it was regarded on all
sides as a key dialogue for the understanding of Plato's philoso
phy. Chalcidius, in the fourth century A. D., and Proclus, in the
fifth, wrote commentaries on the Timaeus. The references in
Proc1us are sufficient to show that the dialogue had been ex
pounded, in whole or in part, by interpreters of every age, from
that of Crantor to that of Proclus himself, including all the
Neo-Platonic luminaries
1.
During the middle ages, the influence of the Timaeus became
even more pervasive. The dialogue had been made available
chiefly through the works of Chalcidius, Boethius' Consolations,
and Macrobius' exposition of Cicero's Somnium Scipionis But
2.
the Greek Fathers, imbued with its spirit and phrases, lent it
further prestige. For many centuries, it was not only the chief
source of Platonism, but of philosophy itself 3. It was easily one
of the most widely read and circulated books of the medieval
era With the publication of the Corpus Platonicum Medii Aevi,
4.
now under way, the influence of the Timaeus on medieval philoso
phy will become increasingly more evident.
Fre~~. enthusiasm for the work was generated by the revolt
against Aristotle. The high regard in which it was held by Renais
sance spirits is symbolized in Raphael's great fresco, 'The School
of Athens', where Plato is shown with a copy of the Timaeus in
his hand. A book of such importance deserves the most careful
consideration.
The history of scholarship has been checkered with those who
thought that Plato or Aristotle, as the case might be, had the
deeper philosophic insight. But seldom have the two men been
put in more radical, systematic opposition to each other than
by a group of nineteenth century Germa.n critics Some took
5.
the position that Aristotle willfully caricatured Plato's thought.
Others more charitably, perhaps, regarded him as simply ignorant
of its true intent. It is difficult to believe that either Plato or
1 Taylor, A Commentary on Plato's Timaeus (Oxford, 1928), pp. 1-2.
• Ibid., p. 2.
• Shorey, 'The Interpretation of the Timaeus', in A. J. P.; IX, 4; 407.
• Klibansky, The Continuity of the Platonic Tradition During the Middle Ages
(London, 1939),PP. 14,27-8, 30-1,33-4.
• Cherniss, Aristotle's Criticism of Plato and the Academy (Baltimore, 1944), I, ix, x.