Neoplatonists on Substance: The Commentary by Ammonius and Asclepius on Aristotle's Metaphysics Book 7 (Zeta)

• Applicant: Professor Dr. James Wilberding
• Subject Area: History of Philosophy
• Term: since 2020
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 455968525

The goal of this project is, firstly, to provide the first-ever translation into a modern language of the earliest surviving commentary on Book 7 (Zeta) of Aristotle’s Metaphysics. This commentary was written down by Asclepius of Tralles in the 6th century C.E. though based on a lecture series by his teacher, Ammonius Hermeiou of Alexandria (c. 435/445 –517/526 C.E.). It has been largely neglected, but this neglect is unjust as it contains much of interest, and this project aims to correct this by making it accessible to a wider readership. The translation (into English) will be based on text edited by M. Hayduck (CAG VI,2 [1888]) and has been commissioned for publication in the renowned Ancient Commentators on Aristotle series. The second aim of this project is to produce a definitive study of Asclepius’ and Ammonius’ account(s) of substance, with a particular focus on the Neoplatonic influence on their thought. This account will be published in a peer-reviewed journal and will inform the introduction and scholarly annotations of the published translation.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants