Aristotle and Other Platonists

"Aristotle versus Plato. For a long time that is the angle from which the tale has been told, in textbooks on the history of philosophy and to university students. Aristotle's philosophy, so the story goes, was au fond in opposition to Plato's. But it was not always thus."—from the IntroductionIn a wide-ranging book likely to cause controversy, Lloyd P. Gerson sets out the case for the "harmony" of Platonism and Aristotelianism, the standard view in late antiquity. He aims to show that the twentieth-century view that Aristotle started out as a Platonist and ended up as an anti-Platonist is seriously flawed. Gerson examines the Neoplatonic commentators on Aristotle based on their principle of harmony. In considering ancient studies of Aristotle's Categories, Physics, De Anima, Metaphysics, and Nicomachean Ethics, the author shows how the principle of harmony allows us to understand numerous texts that otherwise appear intractable. Gerson also explains how these "esoteric" treatises can be seen not to conflict with the early "exoteric" and admittedly Platonic dialogues of Aristotle. Aristotle and Other Platonists concludes with an assessment of some of the philosophical results of acknowledging harmony.

The title of this work indicates quite clearly where the author stands regarding the relationship of these two ancient philosophers: Aristotle, contrary to the usual thinking in the philosophical literature, is a Platonist. Gerson arrives at this position by examining in detail the writings of the Neoplatonists and others of the period and concluding that they were correct in assuming that there was no real conflict in the overall thinking of the two men and that, indeed, their thinking was 'harmonious.', Gerson examines the neglected work of the classical 'harmonists,' those Neoplatonic philosophers of late antiquity who sought to reconcile the opposing doctrinal positions of Platonism and Aristotelianism.... Although some of the harmonists' claims are dubious, Gerson does a fine job defending the essential points of their argumentation. This is an important book that should reshape readers' understanding of the history of classical philosophy., A marvelous contribution to the study of ancient philosophy., The paradigm of opposition between Plato and Aristotle is addressed by Gerson in his learned, fascinating, and persuasive book., This is one of the most important and challenging books on Aristotle in recent memory. I think Lloyd Gerson is unlikely to persuade everyone of the truth of what he says. Nor perhaps will he convince anyone of the truth of all the things he says. But if this book does not succeed in disturbing some dogmatic slumbers, I will be very surprised and more than a little disappointed. I urge anyone who is feeling somewhat stifled by the status quo in Aristotle scholarship to take a good hard look at this book. Even if you disagree profoundly it will—and I think should—open your mind to some new possibilities.

Lloyd P. Gerson is Professor of Philosophy at the University of Toronto. His books include Knowing Persons: A Study in Plato, God and Greek Philosophy, and Plotinus (Arguments of the Philosophers series). He is the editor of The Cambridge Companion to Plotinus and the four-volume Aristotle: Critical Assessments. He is the author of several volumes of translations and commentaries on Greek texts, including Aristotle: Selected Works and Aristotle's Politics (with H. G. Apostle), Hellenistic Philosophy: Introductory Readings (with Brad Inwood), and Neoplatonic Philosophy: Introductory Readings (with John Dillon).