HPhil Seminar: February 8, 2024

The HPhil (History of Philosophy) Research Group of the Centre of Philosophy of the University of Lisbon announces the 2023/24 edition of its permanent seminar on the history of philosophy, devoted to the presentation of conferences by renowned specialists while also creating opportunities to emerging scholars, aiming to promote advanced studies in groundbreaking debates and the permanent training of its academic community.

In this session of the seminar, Geneviève Lachance (CFUL) will present a paper entitled “How to identify an anonymous author? The Armenian commentary on Aristotle’s Peri Hermeneias” (abstract below).

The session will take place on February 8, 2024 at 5 p.m., in the Room C201.J (Room Mattos Romão, Department of Philosophy). Admission is free.

Abstract

Multiple ancient Greek texts were translated into Armenian during Late Antiquity. Among these, the logical treatises of Aristotle occupy a prominent place. Indeed, Aristotle’s first two treatises of the Organon –Categories and On Interpretation (i.e. Peri Hermenias)– were translated from Greek into Armenian between the end of the fifth century and the beginnings of the sixth century AD. Porphyry’s Isagoge, which was written as an introduction to Aristotle’s Categories, was also translated into Armenian during the same period. Moreover, numerous commentaries on Aristotelian logic were preserved in Armenian and passed down to us. For instance, the commentaries written by David the Invincible, a late Neoplatonic commentator from the school of Olympiodorus (6^th century), were preserved both in Greek and Armenian. Some other commentaries were only preserved in Armenian, for instance, two anonymous commentaries on Aristotle’s Categories and Peri Hermeneias.

Concerning these last two commentaries, very little about them is known as they have mostly escaped the attention of modern scholars. It was believed that they were originally written in Greek by the same author, possibly a member of the Neoplatonic school of Alexandria, then translated into Armenian at the same time as the Categories and PeriHermeneias. My talk will focus on one of these two commentaries, namely the anonymous commentary on Aristotle’s Peri Hermeneias. After an overview of the transmission of Greek philosophy in Armenia during Late Antiquity, I will present the latest evidence on the anonymous commentary on Aristotle’s Peri Hermeneias and demonstrate how it is possible to situate the anonymous author within a specific intellectual context.