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, Yury Arzhanov (University of Salzburg) will present a paper, entitled “Syriac Aristotle: between Alexandria and Baghdad” , (abstract below)

The session will take place on March 7, 2024 at 5 p.m., in the Room C201.J (Room Mattos Romão, Department of Philosophy). Admission is free.

Abstract

The Syriac reception of Aristotle is a rather underexplored episode in the history of philosophy. In spite of our insufficient knowledge of this phenomenon, there is little doubt that Syrian scholars have played a decisive role in the process of transmission of the late ancient philosophical tradition to the Arab world and thus, indirectly, to medieval Europe.  According to the apocryphal story reported by al-Farabi, it was Syrian scholars who became the heirs of the Alexandrian philosophical school after the decline of the latter in the 6th century and who brought this tradition first to Ḥarran and later to Baghdad.  Although this story, which has become known as “from Alexandria to Baghdad” complex of narrative, lacks historical credibility, it still points out to the close connection of the Syriac Aristotelians with Alexandria and their influence on the knowledge of Aristotle in the Arab world.