The history of philosophy, in eight parts by Thomas Stanley.

CHAP. XVII.

His Commentatours.

NO sooner were the writings of Aristotle communicated to the world, but they were entertained with generall ap∣probation, which some expressed, by employing themselves in Commenting upon them, whose example was ••ollowed by ma∣ny in all following ages. To omit Pasicrates the Rhodian, brother of Eudemus, who wrote, as Galen affirmeth, upon the book of Categories, we shall name in the first place,

Andronicus the Rhodian; who first published Aristotles writings, put f••rth a Paraphrase or Comment upon the greatest part of them.

Next, his Disciple Boethus, a Sidonian, took much pains in the exposition of Aristotle, whence he is often mentioned honoura∣bly by Ammonius ••nd Simplicius.

Aristo a Coan, Disciple also to Andronicus, asa 1.1 Strabo affirms▪ living in the time of Nicias, Tyrant of Coos, is reckoned by Sim∣plicius amongst the old Commentatours upon Aristotles Catego∣ries.

Nicolaus Damascenus, who lived in the time of Augustus, by whom much loved, is cited by Simplicius and Averroes, as an Expositor of Aristotle.

A••henodorus of Tarsis, a Stoick, who lived also under Augustus, as Plutarch affirms, is cited by Simplicius, as having written up∣on Aristotle's Categories; but, rather by way of confutation then interpretation, as did likewise Alexander Aegeus Nero's Tutor,

mention'd Simplicius; Cornutus, who lived at the same time; ci∣ted by Porphyrius and Simplicius; Lucius and Nicostratus a Macedo∣man, who lived under Antonius.

Sotion of Alexandria, and Achacius, seem to have written upon the Categories, being often cited by Simplicius upon that subject.

Taurus the Ber••••••an, a Platonick Philosopher, living under Anto∣nius, wrote first concerning the difference between the Doctrines of Plato and Aristotle.

Adrastus the Aphrodisaean, wrote a Comment on Aristotle's Ca∣gories, and of his Physicks, and a Book concerning the Method of his Philosophy.

Aspasius, wrote a Comment on all Aristotle's Works, taking par∣ticular care to restore the Text, to which end he is often quoted by Simplicius and Boetius. There is a Comment upon some books of the Ethicks extant under his name.

Herminus, somwhat later, seems to have written upon all, or the greatest part of Aristotle's works, cited by all the Greek Commentatours that are extant, and by Boetius.

Alexander the Aphrodisaean, who lived under Antonius and Se∣verus, wrote upon the Analyticks, Topicks and Elenchs, whence stiled by the latter Interpreters, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 the Expositor.

Galen, who lived at the same time, wrote three Books upon Aristotle of Interpretation, four Books upon the first of the first Analytick, four upon the second of the first, six upon the first of the second Analytick, five upon the second.

b 1.2 Atticus a Platonick Philosopher, besides seven Books wherein he proved Plato and Aristotle to be of the same Sect, contrary to the assertion of Taurus, he wrote also a Dialogue upon the Cate∣gories extant, seven Books upon the Categories cited by Simplicius, a Comment upon the Book of Interpretation, cited by Boetius. Not to mention what he wrote upon Aristotle de Anima, since it ap∣pears from Suidas, that it was rather by way of opposition then exposition, whichc 1.3 Theodoret likewise confirmes.

Iamblicus of Chalcis in Coelosyria, Master to Iulian the Emperour, wrote in an abstruse way upon the Book of Categories.

Dexippus, by some thought to be sonne of Iamblicus, wrote a Dialogue on the Categories, extant.

Maximus a Byzantine, Disciple of Iamblicus, wrote Commen∣taries on the Categories, and other Books of Aristotle, as Simpli∣cus and Suidas affirm.

Plutarch the younger Son of Nestorius flourishing under Valen∣tinian the first, Gratian and Theodosius the first, according to Suidas and Philoponus, wrote Commentaries upon some Books of Aristotle.

Syrianus, surnamed the great, of Alexandria, a Philosopher, who flourished under Arcadius, Honorius, Theodosius the second, and Valentini••n the second, wrote Commentaries upon Ari∣stotle's

Books of Nature, of Motion, of Heaven, and upon the Cate∣gories, cited by Simplicius and Philoponus. Likewise upon the 2^d. 5. and 6. Book of Metaphysicks, which are extant.

Olympiodorus, an Alexandrian, who derived himself from Am∣mon••us Saccus, and was contemporary to Plutarch and Syrianus, wrote upon Aristotle's Meteors, extant. He was later then that Olympiodorus, who writ upon Plato.

Themistius, living, according to Suidas, under Iulian and Iovi∣nian, wrote a Paraphrase upon Aristotle's Physick, 8. Books; a Pa∣raphrase on the Analyticks, 2. Books; upon his Books of the Soul, 7. Books. Of the scope and title of the Book of Categories, one Book.

Proclus, Disciple of Syrianus, wrote two Books concerning Motions, wherein he made an abstract of Aristotle's second Book of Motion. That he wrote also upon his book of Heaven, and the E∣lements may be conjectured from the frequent citations of Simpli∣cius.

Marinus, who succeeded Proclus in the School, seemeth to have written somthing upon Aristotles Book of the Soul, being of∣ten cited upon that subject by Philoponus.

Ammonius Hermaeus wrote upon Aristotle's Categories, and up∣on his Book of Interpretation, both which are extant; as likewise upon his Books of the Soul, cited by Philoponus.

Damascius, a Platonick Philosopher, Disciple to Ammonius, besides what he wrote in confutation of Aristotle concerning Time, epi∣tomiz'd the four first, and the eight Book of his Physick, and the first Book of Heaven. To these adde

Ph••loponus and Simplicius, and Asclepius, Disciples to Ammonius. Iohannes Damascenus, whose compendium of Aristotles Logick and P••ysick are extant; he lived about the year 770.

Eustathius wrote upon some of the Nicomachian Ethicks; and Eustratius upon his book concerning Demonstration.

Michael Psellus, about the year 800. and Michael Ephesius, upon the parva naturalia.

Magentinus upon the Categories and the book of Interpretation.

Nicephorus Blemmydes, (under Iohannes duca,) upon the Logick and Physick.

Georgius Plachymerius and Theodorus Metochita lived about the year 1080. and wrote Epitoms extant.

Of Arabick Commentatours were Avicenna and Averroes; about the year 1216.

The later writers it wil be unnecessary to mention, there being a Catalogue of them annexed to Aristotles works of the Paris Edi∣tion.

Notes

• a 1.1

  Geogr. lib. 14.
• b 1.2

  Suid.
• c 1.3

  Grae. affec. l. 12.