The Suspicious Substrate: Calcidius on Grasping Matter

Author:

Bobovnik Nena1ORCID

Affiliation:

1. Institute of Philosophy , De Wulf-Mansion Centre for Ancient , Medieval and Renaissance Philosophy , KU Leuven , Leuven , Belgium

Abstract

Abstract In the Timaeus, Plato famously acknowledges the receptacle as extremely difficult to comprehend. It is neither intelligible (which is reserved exclusively for the Forms) nor sense-perceptible (as it is a principle far too basic). Instead, as Plato proposes, the receptacle can only be apprehended through a “bastard” sort of “reasoning” (νόθος λογισμός, Tim. 52b1-2.). This paper explores an exegesis of Plato’s claim as offered by Calcidius, the 4th century translator of and commentator on the Timaeus. I identify two distinctive methods Calcidius advances when grappling with the knowability of the material substratum that underpins our world. The first method – analysis (resolutio) – traces its intellectual lineage to earlier philosophical tradition, and Calcidius primarily uses it to uncover the proper nature and ontological characteristics of matter. Conversely, the second method corresponds to the only cognitive grasp of matter Calcidius believes humans are capable of. In his view, we can neither sense-perceive nor rationally understand matter. Instead, matter yields itself only to the cognitive mode of suspicion (suspicio). The paper provides a detailed analysis of Calcidius’ suspicio, delving into its intricacies and exploring the interrelationships between suspicio and resolutio. As such it offers a pioneering and comprehensive exploration of Calcidius’ account of the knowability of matter.

Publisher

Walter de Gruyter GmbH

Subject

History and Philosophy of Science,Philosophy

Reference21 articles.

1. Arzhanov, Yury, tr. and ed. 2021. Porphyry, On Principles and Matter. Berlin, Boston: De Gruyter.

2. Bakhouche, Béatrice, tr. and comm. 2011. Calcidius. Commentaire au Timée de Platon. Paris: Vrin.

3. Charlton, William. 1992. Aristotle Physics: Books I and II. Oxford: Clarendon Press (first edition 1970).

4. Dyson, Henry. 2009. Prolepsis and Ennoia in the Early Stoa. Berlin, New York: De Gruyter.

5. Ferrari, Franco. 2022. “Introduzione.” In Platone, ed. and tr. Federico M. Petrucci Timeo, xciii–c. Florence: Fondazione Lorenzo Valla.

同舟云学术

1.学者识别学者识别

2.学术分析学术分析

3.人才评估人才评估

"同舟云学术"是以全球学者为主线,采集、加工和组织学术论文而形成的新型学术文献查询和分析系统,可以对全球学者进行文献检索和人才价值评估。用户可以通过关注某些学科领域的顶尖人物而持续追踪该领域的学科进展和研究前沿。经过近期的数据扩容,当前同舟云学术共收录了国内外主流学术期刊6万余种,收集的期刊论文及会议论文总量共计约1.5亿篇,并以每天添加12000余篇中外论文的速度递增。我们也可以为用户提供个性化、定制化的学者数据。欢迎来电咨询!咨询电话:010-8811{复制后删除}0370

www.globalauthorid.com

TOP

Copyright © 2019-2024 北京同舟云网络信息技术有限公司
京公网安备11010802033243号  京ICP备18003416号-3