Abstract
The division of Ancient Platonism into Middle Platonism and Neoplatonism is a fairly new one. The conceptual foundation of this division was cemented in Jacob Brucker’s pioneering Historia critica philosophiae (1742-44). In the 1770s and 1780s, the term ‘Neoplatonism’ was coined on the basis of Brucker’s analysis. Three historiographical concepts were decisive to Brucker: ‘system of philosophy’, ‘eclecticism’ and ‘syncretism’. By means of these concepts, he characterized Middle Platonism and Neoplatonism as opposing philosophical movements, the former being a genuine form of Platonism, the latter a false form. However, the division is untenable and we out to abandon it
Original language | English |
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Journal | Apeiron - a Journal for Ancient Philosophy and Science |
Volume | 46 |
Issue number | 2 |
Pages (from-to) | 166-200 |
Number of pages | 35 |
ISSN | 0003-6390 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2013 |