For Damascius, any attempt to grasp the first principle of all things, the Ineffable, implies the rejection of the principle of non-contradiction (PNC). The reasoning soul, using aporia, is forced to admit contradictory statements as true when it comes to cognising what lies beyond any intelligible being. Damascius shows that it is necessary to postulate a completely transcendent and unknowable Absolute which is the uncoordinated cause of all things beyond the One. This paper examines how Damascius relates the rejection of (...) the PNC and regressive arguments by distinguishing two types of reversal (peritropê) of arguments. This paper begins by analysing: i) Damascius’ first aporia, ii) his characterisation of the first principle as ineffable and iii) its unknowable nature. This leads to some comments about Damascius’ use of predicates and their negations. Finally, the paper distinguishes between regression and reversal to suggest that Damascius’ reversal of the predicates implies that the first principle lies beyond the PNC but does not involve an infinity of first principles. (shrink)

This paper proposes to pose the question of a possible position of Plotinus with regard to the Argument of the Third Man : first, we will examine if it is possible to attribute to Plotinus a position as regards TMA such as it appears in the Parmenides, in particular with regard to the premise which affirms the self-predication of the Forms. Next, we will briefly consider how the question of the soul-body relationship can, to some extent, provide a better understanding (...) of why Plotinus does not bother to give an explicit objection to TMA. Finally, we will analyze how the theory of two kinds of resemblance strikes a fatal blow to the spirit of TMA. (shrink)

Dans cet article, j’examinerai la description du modèle (paradeigma) dans le Timée. Après avoir fait quelques commentaires à propos du contexte dans lequel le modèle est introduit en tant que composante de la sphère intelligible, je poserai la question de l’extension exacte de cette sphère dans le Timée. Puis, je suggèrerai que le modèle peut être défini comme la réalisation optimale d’une fonctionnalité. Cela semble être en effet une alternative crédible afin de comprendre ce que sont les Formes dans la (...) métaphysique de Platon. Néanmoins, cette conception n’est pas exempte de difficultés puisque Platon admet également une conception plus substantielle du modèle dans le Timée (ce dernier élément ne sera pas investigué dans cet article). Cela dit, une vision fonctionnaliste du modèle permet de donner une justification satisfaisante à l’idée selon laquelle le cosmos est la meilleure réalisation démiurgique possible. (shrink)

A principal tese que pretendo defender aqui é que, apesar de a Forma da Cama, na discussão da República, ser considerada inteligível, não é intenção de Platão incluir Formas de objetos artificiais em sua hipótese metafísica. A consideração do contexto permite entender por que a Forma da Cama é necessária para a argumentação do livro X, ainda que, como tal, não se deva assumir como parte da família das Formas. Em vez disso, sugiro que a crítica das artes imitativas no (...) livro X, em última análise, depende da existência do inteligível como tal e não de certas Formas específicas. (shrink)

This edited volume brings together contributions from prominent scholars to discuss new approaches to Plato's philosophy, especially in the burgeoning fields of Platonic ontology and psychology. Topics such as the relationship between mind, soul and emotions, as well as the connection between ontology and ethics are discussed through the analyses of dialogues from Plato's middle and late periods, such as the Republic, Symposium, Theaetetus, Timaeus and Laws. These works are being increasingly studied both as precursors for Aristotelian philosophy and in (...) their own right, and the analyses included in this volume reveal some new interpretations of topics such as Plato's attitude towards artistic imagination and the possibility of speaking of a teleology in Plato. Focusing on hot topics in the area, Psychology and Ontology in Plato provides a good sense of what is happening in Platonic scholarship worldwide and will be of interest to academic researchers and teachers interested in ancient philosophy, ontology and philosophical psychology. (shrink)

Si le platonisme est généralement considéré comme une métaphysique de type réaliste, c’est-à-dire qui postule au centre de sa doctrine l’existence de réalités indépendantes des particuliers sensibles, c’est la question du statut des Formes qui fait débat. Francis A. Grabowski III pose au point de départ de son étude la thèse suivante : dans les critiques adressées à Platon, par exemple dans celle de Bertrand Russell, les Formes ont souvent été identifiées à des uni­versaux. Or cette vue doit...

In this paper we argue that, in the Sophist, Plato provides the reader some elements about a revision of his ontology behind the discussion about the nature of non-being. We would want to show that the analysis of the notion of image gives some indications concerning the nature of the sensible, which is usually described as an image of the intelligible.

Imaginons être à la place de l’artisan divin? Comment aurions-nous fait pour fabriquer le _cosmos_ tout entier? Platon répond à cette question dans le _Timée_ en proposant une expérience de pensée qui consiste à ordonner un chaos primordial. Imagine being in the shoes of the divine craftsman? How would you have gone about creating the entire _cosmos_? Plato answers this question in the _Timaeus_ offering a thought experiment that involves ordering a primordial chaos.

La plupart des études récentes sur le Lysis de Platon considèrent ce dialogue comme un échec philosophique. Si quelques parties du Lysis ont retenu l’at­tention des commentateurs, il en est peu qui ont essayé, dans leur analyse, de défendre l’idée que ce court texte offre un contenu philosophique construit et cohérent. Terry Penner et Christopher Rowe (P&R) relèvent ce défi dans leur commentaire philosophique de ce dialogue en affirmant qu’une analyse systéma­tique du Lysis est insuffisante e...