Frans de Haas
Professor of Ancient and Medieval Philosophy
- Name
- Prof.dr. F.A.J. de Haas
- Telephone
- +31 71 527 2010
- f.a.j.de.haas@hum.leidenuniv.nl
- ORCID iD
- 0000-0003-4142-7150
Frans de Haas is a Professor of Ancient and Medieval Philosophy
Teaching
My teaching is mainly concerned with influential aspects of the philosophy of Antiquity and the Middle Ages. I am interested in the reception of Plato, Aristotle, Stoics and Sceptics in the philosophical commentary tradition of late Antiquity (200-600 CE) and beyond. Philosophers in Late Antiquity discuss critical questions and problems which have shaped the reception of ancient philosophy in the Middle Ages, the Renaissance and the Early Modern period. Sometimes they have even managed to dominate modern interpretations of Plato and Aristotle.
Research
My current research focuses on Alexander of Aphrodisias (ca. 200 CE), who was the most influential interpreter of Aristotle in Late Antiquity. While occupying the chair in Aristotelian philosophy in Athens set up by the Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius in 176 CE, Alexander re-designed Aristotelianism in order to offer the best possible alternative to the Platonic, Stoic and Epicurean philosophies of his peers in Athens. The purpose of my research is to show how his famous adaptations of Aristotelian philosophy in e.g. the fields of logic, metaphysics, hylomorphism, psychology and freedom of action combine to make a new consistent Aristotelianism for the third century CE. It was this Aristotelianism that shaped Neoplatonism, as well as Medieval and Renaissance Aristotelianisms.
General interests that I have pursued throughout my career include Aristotle's philosophy of mind and philosophy of science, and their reception in later Antiquity and beyond. In addition, I am fascinated by the interplay between philosophy and the exact sciences like mathematics, astronomy and music in Antiquity.
More recently, I have developed an interest in the role of ancient western philosophy in intercultural philosophical debates, and the need to rewrite the history of ancient philosophy as an open-minded, rather than as a geographically and culturally closed, human endeavour. I am currently exploring the systematic and historical connections between innovations in Hellenistic philosophy and Asian philosophy, e.g. Scepticism and Buddhist philosophy.
I currently lead a research group with 8 PhD candidates in ancient philosophy working on projects involving Plato, Aristotle, Alexander of Aphrodisias, and Iamblichus. The group has been regularly expanded with visiting PhD candidates and postdocs from e.g. Brazil, China, Denmark, and Poland.
International cooperation
• The Chairs in Ancient Philosophy of Leiden, Utrecht and Leuven cooperate in the Centre for Ancient Philosophy (CAW in Dutch), which facilitates part of the training of Research MA and PhD students, and organizes regular meetings, lectures by invited speakers etc.
• Member and former president of the Academia Platonica septima Monasteriensis, a European network for research in Platonism, established in Münster (Germany).
• Team leader in the European programme From natural philosophy to science (2002-2007) funded by the European Science Foundation.
• Since 2012 I have established and developed cooperation with the School of Philosophy of Beijing Normal University (China), where I held a guest professorship at the Center for the Study of Sciences and Humanities in 2012-2015. I have also been invited as a speaker by other universities in China, including Peking University, Renmin University, and the China University for Politics and Law.
• Since 2003 I have been a member of the editorial board of the book series Philosophia Antiqua edited by Brill Publishers, since 2019 as editor-in-chief.
Curriculum vitae
Prof.dr. Frans A.J. de Haas (1963) studied Classics, and received his PhD in ancient philosophy from Leiden University (1995). He spent a year as a visiting research fellow at the Institute of Classical Studies (London) on a scholarship from the Niels Stensen Foundation. He was Research Fellow of the Dutch Royal Academy of Arts and Sciences at Utrecht University (1997-2000), and Assistant Professor of Ancient and Medieval Philosophy at Nijmegen University (2000-2002). Since 2003 he is Full Professor of Ancient and Medieval Philosophy at Leiden University.
In the years 2004-2005 he was Dean of the (then) Faculty of Philosophy, in 2011-2017 Academic Director of the Institute for Philosophy. Since 2019 he leads the Leiden Centre for History of Philosoph (formerly Centre for Late Antique and Medieval Studies) in cooperation with Ahab Bdaiwi and Bert van den Berg. In 2019-2023 he has been Director of the Dutch Research School in Philosophy (OZSW).
Professor of Ancient and Medieval Philosophy
- Faculty of Humanities
- Instituut voor Wijsbegeerte
Guest
- Faculty of Humanities
- Centre for the Arts in Society
- Griekse T&C
- Haas F.A.J. de (2024), Alexander of Aphrodisias on concepts. In: Betegh G. & Tsouna V. (Eds.), Conceptualising concepts in Greek philosophy. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 368-383.
- Haas F.A.J. de (2023), Ataraxia in Ancient Greek philosophy. In: Flavel S. & Robbiano C. (Eds.), Key concepts in world philosophies: A toolkit for philosophers. London: Bloomsbury Academic. 33-41.
- Haas F.A.J. de (2023), Alexander of Aphrodisias on the ancient debate on hylomorphism and the development of intellect. In: Charles D. (Ed.), The history of hylomorphism: from Aristotle to Descartes. Oxford: Oxford University Press. 174-196.
- Guyomarc'h G. & Haas F.A.J. de (Eds.) (2023), Studies on Alexander of Aphrodisias’ on mixture and growth. Philosophia Antiqua no. 170. Leiden-Boston: Brill.
- Haas F.A.J. de (2023), De mixtione V–VI: common notions and bodies receiving bodies. In: Guyomarc'h G. & Haas F.A.J. de (Eds.), Studies on Alexander of Aphrodisias’ on mixture and growth. Philosophia Antiqua no. 170. Leiden-Boston: Brill. 83-99.
- Haas F.A.J. de (2021), Deduction and common notions in Alexander’s commentary on Aristotle’s metaphysics A 1–2, Logical Analysis and History of Philosophy/Philosophiegeschichte und logische Analyse 24(1): 71-102.
- Haas F.A.J. de (2020), Aristotle and Alexander of Aphrodisias on active intellectual cognition. In: Decaix V. & Mora-Márquez A.M. (Eds.), Active Cognition: Challenges to an Aristotelian Tradition. Studies in the History of Philosophy of Mind no. 23. Cham: Springer. 13-36.
- Haas F.A.J. de (2019), Intellect in Alexander of Aphrodisias and John Philoponus: divine, human or both?. In: Sisko J.E. (Ed.), Philosophy of mind in antiquity. London & New York: Routledge. 299-316.
- Haas F.A.J. de (2019), 'What appears good to us' in Aspasius and Alexander of Aphrodisias. In: Fink J.L. (Ed.), Phantasia in Aristotle's ethics: reception in the Arabic, Greek, Hebrew and Latin traditions. Bloomsbury Studies in the Aristotelian Tradition. London-New York-Oxford-New Delhi-Sydney: Bloomsbury Academic. 15-36.
- Haas F.A.J. de (2018), Potentiality in Aristotle's psychology and ethics. In: Engelhard K. & Quante M. (Eds.), Handbook of potentiality. Dordrecht: Springer. 71-91.
- Haas F.A.J. de (2018), Themistius. In: Marmodoro A. & Cartwright S. (Eds.), A History of Mind and Body in Late Antiquity. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 111-128.
- Haas F.A.J. de (2017), Aristoteles. In: Rebel F. (Ed.), Basisboek Westerse Filosofie. Leusden: ISVW Uitgevers. 36-48.
- Haas F.A.J. de (2016), The human body and its natural environment: Aristotle, Alexander of Aphrodisias and the perceived threat of reductionism. In: Buchheim T., Meissner D. & Wachsmann N. (Eds.), SOMA.: Körperkonzepte und körperliche Existenz in der antiken Philosophie und Literatur. Archiv für Begriffsgeschichte no. Sonderheft 13. Hamburg: Felix Meiner Verlag. 45-59.
- Haas F.A.J. de (2016), Mixture in Philoponus: an encounter with a Third Kind of potentiality. In: Sorabji R.R.K. (Ed.), Aristotle re-interpreted: new findings of Seven Hundred Years of the Ancient Commentators. London-Oxford-New York-New Delhi-Sydney: Bloomsbury Academic. 413-435.
- Haas F.A.J. de (2015), Review of: Craston V. (2012), On the soul. Part 1: soul as form of the body, parts of the soul, nourishment, and perception. Translated with an introduction and commentary by Victor Caston. Ancient commentators on Aristotle. London: Bristol Classical Press. International Journal of the Platonic Tradition 9(2): 242-245.
- Haas F.A.J. de (2014), Presuppositions of moral action in Aristotle and Alexander of Aphrodisias. In: D'Hoine P. & Riel G. van (Eds.), Fate, providence and moral responsibility in Ancient, Medieval and Early Modern thought: studies in honour of Carlos Steel. Ancient and Medieval Philosophy: De Wulf Mansion Centre, series 1 no. 49. Leuven: Leuven University Press. 103-116.
- Haas F.A.J. de (2014), Dualism and the virtuous life: an Aristotelian contribution to an empirically responsible ethics. Beijing Forum 7 November 2014 - 9 November 2014.
- Haas F.A.J. de (2014), The new design of Peripatetic philosophy by Alexander of Aphrodisias. Aristotle Transferred 23 October 2014 - 25 October 2014.
- Haas F.A.J. de (2014), Aristotle and Alexander of Aphrodisias on hylomorphism in psychology. Problemas aristotélicos. Jornada de discusión 26 March 2014 - 26 March 2014.
- Haas F.A.J. de (2013), Hylomorphism and the requirements of the body-soul relationship. Workshop Current Issues in Aristotelian Scholarship.
- Haas F.A.J. de (2013), Analysis in Alexander of Aphrodisias Quaestio I.1: how one might establish the first cause. Analysis and Synthesis in Ancient and Medieval Philosophy 18 December 2013 - 20 December 2013.
- Haas F.A.J. de (2013), The Human Body and its Natural Environment. Körper. Soma und corpus in der antiken Philosophie und Literatur 7 October 2013 - 11 October 2013.
- Haas F.A.J. de (2012), 247b1-247b13: commentary. In: Maso S., Natali C. & Seel G. (Eds.), Reading Aristotle Physics VII.3 : "What is alteration?". Las Vegas Zürich Athens: Parmenides Publishing. 99-108.
- Haas F.A.J. de (2011), Aristoteles. In: Jurgens J.E. & Rebel F. (Eds.), Introductiecursus Inleiding tot de westerse filosofie. Amsterdam: Stichting Instituut voor Filosofie. 24-32.
- Haas F.A.J. de (2011), Priscian of Lydia and Pseudo-Simplicius on the soul. In: Gerson L.P. (Ed.), The Cambridge history of philosophy in Late Antiquity. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 756-764.
- Haas F.A.J. de (2011), Principles, conversion, and circular proof: the reception of an Academic debate in Proclus and Philoponus. In: Bénatouil T., Trabbatoni F. & Riel G. van (Eds.), Plato, Aristotle or both?: Dialogues between Platonism and Aristotelianism in Antiquity. Hildesheim: Academia Verlag. 173-194.
- Haas F.A.J. de (2011), Wiskunde in Alexandrië, Lampas. Tijdschrift voor classici 44(4): 349-367.
- Haas F.A.J. de, Leunissen M.E.M.P.J. & Martijn M. (Eds.) (2010), Interpreting Aristotle's Posterior Analytics in Late Antiquity and Beyond. Leiden: Brill.
- Haas F.A.J. de (2010) http://bmcr.brynmawr.edu/2010/2010-07-06.html. Review of: Brisson L. & Pradeau J.-F. (2008), Plotin. Traités 42-44. Sur les genres de l'être I, II et III. Paris: GF Flammarion .
- Haas F.A.J. de (2010) Recensie. Review of: (2004), Aristoteles' Kategorienschrift in ihrer antiken Kommentierung. Tübingen: Mohr (Paul Siebeck). Gnomon 82: 200-203.
- Haas F.A.J. de (2009), Philoponus and the mathematization of logic, Documenti e Studi sulla Tradizione Filosofica Medievale 20: 193-210.
- Haas F.A.J. de (2009), Aporia 3-5. In: Crubellier M. & Laks A. (Eds.), Aristotle's metaphysics beta. Symposia Aristotelica. Oxford: Oxford University Press. 73-104.
- Haas F.A.J. de (2009), Know Thyself: awareness in Plato and Aristotle. In: Riel G. van & Destrée P. (Eds.), Ancient perspectives on Aristotle's De anima. Ancient and Medieval Philosophy: De Wulf Mansion Centre, series 1 no. 41. Leuven: Leuven University Press. 49-69.
- Haas F.A.J. de (2009), Review of: Slaveva-Griffin S. (2009), Plotinus on Number. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews 2009.10.11 [http://ndpr.nd.edu/review.cfm?id=17805] .
- Haas F.A.J. de (2008), Thinking about thought: an inquiry into the life of Platonism. In: Dillon J. & Zovko M.-É. (Eds.), Platonism and forms of intelligence. Berlin: Akademie Verlag. 141-157.
- Haas F.A.J. de (2008), Wijsgerige psychologie in de Oudheid: pendelen tussen natuurwetenschap en metafysica. In: Bakker P.M.M.J. (Ed.), Lichaam & ziel: over de filosofische voorgeschiedenis van de psychologie. Amsterdam: Boom. 23-50.
- Haas F.A.J. de (2007), Plato en het onheil in de wereld. In: Kinneging A. & Wiche R.T.P. (Eds.), Van kwaad tot erger: filosofie van het kwaad van Plato tot Hannah Arendt. Utrecht: Spectrum. 19-35.
- Haas F.A.J. de (2007), Thinking about Thought. An inquiry into the life of Platonism. Zovko Marie-Élise (Ed.), Platonism and Forms of Intelligence. .
- Algra K.A., Haas F.A.J. de, Ophuijsen J.M. van & Steel C.G. (2006), Griekse en Romeinse Filosofie. Leiden: syllabus.
- Haas F.A.J. de (2006), The status of physics in Plotinus and its Aristotelian background. ESF Exploratory Workshop Physics and Philosophy of Nature in Greek Neoplatonism. Castelvecchio Pascoli. [lecture].
- Haas F.A.J. de (2005), The discriminating capacity of the soul in Aristotle's theory of learning. In: Salles R. (Ed.), Metaphysics, Soul and Ethics in Ancient Thought - Themes from the Work of Richard Sorabji.. Oxford: Oxford University Press. 321-344.
- Algra K.A., Haas F.A.J. de, Ophuijsen J.M. van & Steel C.G. (Eds.) (2005), Griekse en Romeinse Filosofie. Leiden: Universiteit Leiden.
- Haas F.A.J. de (2004), Introduction to: Joannes Philoponus, Commentaria in Aristotelis De generatione et corruptione. In: Lohr C. (Ed.), CAGL. Stuttgart-Bad Canstatt: Frommann-Holzboog. 5-15.
- Haas F.A.J. de (2004), Context and strategy of Plotinus treatise on the genera of being (Enn. VI.1-3 [42-44]). In: Celluprica V. & D'Ancona C. (Eds.), Proceedings of the conference Aristotele e i suoi esegeti neoplatonici. Logica e ontologia nelle interpretazioni greche e arabe. Rome: Bibliopolis. 39-53.
- Haas F.A.J. de & Mansfeld J. (2004), Editor's introduction. In: , Aristotle, De generatione et corruptione I. Proceedings of the Symposium Aristotelicum. Oxford: Oxford University Press. 1-6.
- Algra K.A., Haas F.A.J. de, Ophuijsen J.M. van & Steel C.G. (Eds.) (2004), De Antieke Wijsbegeerte. Leiden: Universiteit Leiden.
- Haas F.A.J. de & Mansfeld J. (Eds.) (2004), Aristotle, De generatione et corruptione I. Proceedings of the Symposium Aristotelicum. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
- Haas F.A.J. de (2003), Late Ancient Philosophy. In: Sedley D. (Ed.), Cambridge Companion to Greek and Roman Philosophy. Cambridge: CUP. 242-270.
- Algra K.A., Haas F.A.J. de, Ophuijsen J.M. van & Steel C.G. (Eds.) (2003), De Antieke Wijsbegeerte. Leiden: Universiteit Leiden.
- Haas F.A.J. de (2003), Tussen Plotinus en Stephanus, Kunst en Wetenschap 12(1): 11-12.
- Haas F.A.J. de (2002), Modifications of the Method of Inquiry in Aristotle's Physics I.1. An essay on the dynamics of the ancient commentary tradition. In: Leijenhorst C.H., Lüthy C.H. & Thijssen J.M.M.H. (Eds.), The Dynamics of Aristotelian Natural Philosophy. Leiden: Brill. 31-56.
- Haas F.A.J. de (2001), Simplicius. On Aristotle On Categories 5. In: , On Aristotle On Categories 5, 6. London: Duckworth. 1-92.
- Haas F.A.J. de (2001) Genesis elucidated. Review of L. Fladerer, Johannes Philoponos De opificio mundi. Spätantikes Sprachdenken und christliche Exegese. Stuttgart-Leipzig 1999. Review of: , L. Fladerer, Johannes Philoponos De opificio mundi. Spätantikes Sprachdenken und christliche Exegese. Stuttgart-Leipzig 1999. no. 2. Classical Review 51: 300-302.
- Haas F.A.J. de (2001), De daden van Diogenes: denken, doen en de anekdote, Splijtstof September: 52-92.
- Haas F.A.J. de (2001), Did Plotinus and Porphyry disagree on Aristotle's Categories?, Phronesis 46(4): 492-526.
- Haas F.A.J. de (2000), Recollection and Potentiality in Philoponus. In: Kardaun M. & Spruijt J. (Eds.), The Winged Chariot. Collected Essays on Plato and Platonism in Honour of L.M. de Rijk. Leiden: Brill. 165-184.
- Haas F.A.J. de (2000) Recensie van Aristoteles.Ethica Nicomachea.Vertaald, ingeleid, aantekeningen:Ch.Pannier & J.Verhaeghe. Groningen:Hist.Uitg,1999.Nicomachean Ethics Books VIII&IX. Translated:M.Pakaluk. Edited:J.L.Ackrill & L.Judson,Clarendon Aristotle Series,Oxford UP,1998. Review of: , Ch.Pannier & J.Verhaeghe. Groningen:Hist.Uitg,1999.Nicomachean Ethics Books VIII&IX. Translated:M.Pakaluk. Edited:J.L.Ackrill & L.Judson,Clarendon Aristotle Series,Oxford UP,1998. Nexus 26: 218-224.
- Haas F.A.J. de (2000), Mathematik und Phänomene. Eine Polemik über naturwissenschaftliche Methode in Simplikios, Antike Naturwissenschaft und ihre Rezeption : 107-129.
- Haas F.A.J. de (1999), Mixture in Philoponus. An Encounter with a Third Kind of Potentiality. In: Thijssen J.M.M.H. & Braakhuis H.A.G. (Eds.), The Commentary Tradition on De generatione et corruptione: Ancient, Medieval and Early Modern. Studia Artistarum no. 7. Turnhout: Brepols. 21-46.
- Haas F.A.J. de (1999) Review of Gerson, L.P. Plotinus. The Arguments of the Philosophers. London: Routledge, 1994. Review of: , Gerson, L.P. Plotinus. The Arguments of the Philosophers. London: Routledge, 1994. no. 1. Mnemosyne 52: 104-112.
- Haas F.A.J. de (1999) Review of Di Liscia, D.A., Kessler, E., and Methuen, C., eds. Method and Order in Renaissance Philosophy of Nature: The Aristotle Commentary Tradition. Aldershot-Brookfield: Ashgate, 1997. Review of: , Di Liscia, D.A., Kessler, E., and Methuen, C., eds. Method and Order in Renaissance Philosophy of Nature: The Aristotle Commentary Tradition. Aldershot-Brookfield: Ashgate, 1997. no. 3. Renaissance Studies 13: 349-352.
- Haas F.A.J. de (1999), Is de wereld uniek? Methode en metafysica in Aristoteles en Plato, Filosofie. Tweemaandelijks tijdschrift van de Stichting Informatie Filosofie 9(2): 2-20.
- Haas F.A.J. de (1998), Philoponus on Theophrastus on Composition in Nature. In: Ophuijsen J.M. van & Raalte M. van (Eds.), Theophrastus. Reappraising the Sources. New Brunswick-London: Transaction Publishers. 171-189.
- Haas F.A.J. de (1998), De fysica van de boogschutter. Proeven aan de Griekse commentaren op het oeuvre van Aristoteles (en Plato), Lampas: Tijdschrift voor Nederlandse classici 31(5): 395-411.
- Haas F.A.J. de (1997), John Philoponus' New Definition of Prime Matter. Aspects of its Background in Neoplatonism and the Ancient Commentary Tradition. Leiden-New York-Köln: E.J. Brill.
- Haas F.A.J. de (1997), Aristotle's Fourteenth Aporia and the Three Dimensions in Later Neoplatonism. Cleary J.J. (Ed.), The Perennial Tradition of Neoplatonism. . Leuven: Leuven University Press. 347-368.
- Haas F.A.J. de (1997) Review of J.E. Annas, Interpretazione dei libri M-N della Metafisica di Aristotele. La filosofia della matematica in Platone e Aristotele (Introduzione e traduzione di Giovanni Reale), Milaan 1992. Review of: , J.E. Annas, Interpretazione dei libri M-N della Metafisica di Aristotele. La filosofia della matematica in Platone e Aristotele (Introduzione e traduzione di Giovanni Reale), Milaan 1992. no. 2. Mnemosyne 50: 229-231.
- Haas F.A.J. de (1996) Rev. of Ch. Lohr, J. Philoponi Commentariae Annotationes in libros Priorum Resolutivorum Aristotelis. Übersetzt von G. Dorotheus. Neudruck der Ausgabe Venedig 1541 mit einer Einleitung von K. Verrycken & Ch. Lohr (CAGL 4),Stuttgart-Bad Canstatt 1994. Review of: , Ch. Lohr, J. Philoponi Commentariae Annotationes in libros Priorum Resolutivorum Aristotelis. no. 1. Classical Review 46: 172-172.
- Haas F.A.J. de (1994) Review of I. Hadot (ed.), Simplicius. Commentaire sur les Catégories, fasc. I + III [Philosophia Antiqua 50-51], Leiden 1990. Review of: (1990), I. Hadot (ed.), Simplicius. Commentaire sur les Catégories, fasc. I + III [Philosophia Antiqua 50-51], Leiden 1990.. 47 no. 5. Leiden: Brill. Mnemosyne 47(5): 698-702.