Question from an ignoramus (me): What were the sources/manuscripts from which we know of Socrates/Plato/Aristotle? Were they ever lost and 'rediscovered'? Were their commentaries on them throughout the ages continually?
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After the closure of the Academy at Athens, we effectively cease to see commentaries on Plato, because the bitter conflicts with the last generations of pagan Platonists had made him a poison pill. But commentary on Aristotle continues.
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Some of this is due to the general lessening of interest in philosophy in this era. Xtianity did not assign so high a value to it, and times were tough. But Xtians passed on a certain tradition of philosophical commentary to the Muslims.
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This tradition was, as I indicated, centered on Aristotle. But Plato was present in a mediated sense, as epitomes of Neoplatonic thought, suitably monotheized, did circulate in Xtian and Muslim circles. The only dialogue I have heard of Muslims having is the Republic, though.
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Byzantines continued to read and copy manuscripts of Plato in order to master classical literary Greek. It is interesting that Proclus gets copied so much, even translated into languages like Georgian. That may speak to a certain heretical interest in the notorious polytheist.
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When Michael Psellos comes along in the 11th century, though, he seems to be attempting to revive philosophical study of Platonism, as if it had quite died out by then. Not much seems to have come of it. The manuscripts, of course, came West after the fall of Byzantium.
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Thank you!
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