Lecture
LCHP Colloquium "Dreams and Divination: Byzantine Commentaries on Aristotle’s Dream Theory"
- Date
- Wednesday 11 December 2024
- Time
- Location
-
P.J. Veth
Nonnensteeg 1-3
2311 VJ Leiden - Room
- 1.03
The Leiden Centre for the History of Philosophy is proud to announce a lecture by Julia Baranowska PhD student at the Doctoral School of Languages and Literatures at the Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, Poland and a guest reseacher Erasmus + at our Institute. In her research her main focus is on the psychophysiology of sleep in Aristotle's works. Her research also includes the study of Byzantine commentaries on Aristotle's treatised by Michael of Ephesus and Sophonias.
Deelnemen Zoom Vergadering
Launch Meeting - Zoom
Vergadering-ID: 636 9497 7530
Wachtwoord: kYvF6!T3
Abstract
The tradition of commenting on Aristotle’s works dates back to the 1st century BCE and has continued through the centuries, profoundly shaping philosophical discourse. This lecture focuses on the Byzantine commentaries of Michael of Ephesus and Sophonias on Aristotle’s De Divinatione per Somnum, comparing these works in terms of both their relationship to Aristotle’s original text and their unique interpretive perspectives. Composed between the 12th and 14th centuries CE, these commentaries illustrate the Byzantine reception of Aristotle, each offering a distinct approach to his philosophy. Michael of Ephesus employs a running commentary style, methodically analyzing and interpreting Aristotle’s passages while adding personal anecdotes—including reflections on his own dreams—that provide insight into his individual perspective. Sophonias, by contrast, adopts a paraphrastic style, rephrasing Aristotle’s ideas in a way that mirrors Aristotle’s own voice, making complex concepts more accessible for a broader audience. By analyzing the methods and insights of both commentators, this presentation aims to deepen our understanding of the Byzantine engagement with Aristotle and highlight the nuanced ways in which each commentary both aligns with and diverges from the Aristotelian source text.
All are welcome!