Alexandros of Aphrodisias
Who was Alexandros of Aphrodisias?
2nd-3rd century Greek peripatetic philosopher and commentator on Aristotle
Biographical data adapted from Wikipedia’s article on Alexandros of Aphrodisias (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Biography
Alexander of Aphrodisias, active around 200 AD, was a Peripatetic philosopher known for his work on Aristotle's writings. Born in Aphrodisias in Asia Minor's Caria region, he became a key figure in his time. He taught in Athens at the start of the 3rd century, leading the Peripatetic school, founded by Aristotle. This role made him a central figure in the philosophical community during the Roman Empire's Severan dynasty.
Alexander wrote extensively, mainly focusing on commentaries on Aristotle's texts. Surviving works include commentaries on Prior Analytics, Topics, Meteorology, Sense and Sensibilia, and Metaphysics. His writings went beyond mere summaries, offering detailed analysis and defending Aristotelian ideas against opposing views. His expertise earned him the title 'the Commentator,' making his interpretations of Aristotle highly influential.
He also wrote original philosophical works. His piece On Fate argues against Stoic determinism, emphasizing the importance of free will for moral responsibility. In On the Soul, he argues from a materialist standpoint, seeing the soul as a function of the body, challenging Platonic views.
Alexander's ideas on the soul influenced later discussions, especially his thoughts on intellect, which linked it with the human body's material nature and with nature or God as an external principle. This interpretation sparked debates among philosophers and theologians for centuries, particularly in Islamic and Renaissance thought.
While the exact dates of his birth and death are unclear, he was likely active between 198 and 215 AD. He dedicated On Fate to the emperors Septimius Severus and Caracalla, indicating he possibly received his Athenian position through imperial support, highlighting the strong ties between philosophy and authority at the time. His philosophical impact was significant, with his works being studied and discussed well into the medieval and early modern eras.
Before Fame
Not much is known about the specific details of Alexander's early life, like the exact circumstances of his birth and education. He came from Aphrodisias in Caria, a Greek-speaking city in what is now southwestern Turkey, renowned for its sculpture and civic culture during Roman times. His teacher was likely Sosigenes, a Peripatetic philosopher active in the 2nd century AD, and he might have also studied with Herminus, another figure linked to the revival of Aristotelian commentary during this period.
The 2nd century AD experienced renewed interest in classical Greek philosophical schools, with thinkers across the Roman Empire revisiting the foundational texts of Plato, Aristotle, and the Stoics. During this time, Peripatetic philosophy had somewhat declined compared to Platonism and Stoicism, but commentators like Alexander worked to systematically recover and defend Aristotelianism. His rise to lead the Peripatetic school in Athens was the peak of this scholarly effort and marked the tradition's comeback as a serious intellectual force.
Key Achievements
- Held the position of head of the Peripatetic school in Athens around 200 AD
- Produced surviving commentaries on five of Aristotle's major works, including the Metaphysics and Prior Analytics
- Authored the treatise On Fate, a significant philosophical argument against Stoic determinism
- Developed an influential materialist account of the soul in his treatise On the Soul
- Earned the unique honorific title 'the Commentator' for his unparalleled contributions to Aristotelian scholarship
Did You Know?
- 01.Alexander dedicated his treatise On Fate to the co-emperors Septimius Severus and Caracalla, suggesting his academic appointment may have carried imperial support.
- 02.He was given the title 'ho Exegetis,' meaning 'the Commentator,' by later scholars, distinguishing him above all other interpreters of Aristotle.
- 03.His materialist theory of the soul influenced the medieval Islamic philosopher Averroes, who argued against Alexander's interpretation while acknowledging its significance.
- 04.Alexander's interpretation of Aristotle's active intellect as an external cosmic principle, rather than a faculty of the individual mind, was highly contested and generated philosophical debate lasting over a millennium.
- 05.His commentary on the Prior Analytics is one of the oldest surviving detailed commentaries on Aristotelian logic and remained a standard reference in logical studies through the Byzantine period.