An Intellective Perspective on Aristotle: Iamblichus the Divine, 2016
By: Opsomer, Jan, Falcon, Andrea (Ed.)
Title An Intellective Perspective on Aristotle: Iamblichus the Divine
Type Book Section
Language English
Date 2016
Published in Brill’ Companion to the Reception of Aristotle in Antiquity
Pages 341-357
Categories no categories
Author(s) Opsomer, Jan
Editor(s) Falcon, Andrea
Translator(s)
Iamblichus (ccl 245-320) is sometimes called the second founder of Neoplatonism.1 His innovations were essential to late Neoplatonic philosophy as it developed in the schools of Athens in particular» but also Alexandria. These innovations do not just pertain to philosophical tenets» but also to philosophi­ cal method and style. Iamblichus defined stricter exegetical rules and new metaphysical laws. He also created an alliance between philosophy and theurgy and insisted on the philosophical value of various religious traditions and reli­ gious-philosophical texts like the Chaldaean oracles. Iamblichus was» more­ over, decisive in shaping the school curriculum and, more generally, the canon of texts that, whether philosophical or religious, carried authority for philo­ sophical research. He, for instance, systematically included texts belonging to a Pythagorean tradition— a tradition which to some extent was of his own construal. His selection of philosophically important texts was in line with cer­ tain earlier developments, but it was Iamblichus who established a real canon. Indeed, after Iamblichus the canon remained more or less stable.If we look at the importance assigned to Aristotle and the Peripatetic tra­ dition, it is clear that the difference between Iamblichus and his arch-rival Porphyry does not reside in which texts were held to be worthy of profound study. Hie difference is situated rather in the role and status attributed to them within the Platonic philosophical system. From the early Imperial era onward, Aristotle was seen by most Platonists as an ally, unlike the Stoics and Epicureans, who were regarded as opponents. Yet the extent to which Aristotelian ideas were incorporated varied greatly. Different parts of Aristotle's thought attracted different Platonists and the strategies used for integrating and assimilating them diverged. Here Iamblichus made his mark, as will become clear below. [Introduction, p. 341]

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These \r\ninnovations do not just pertain to philosophical tenets\u00bb but also to philosophi\u00ad\r\ncal method and style. Iamblichus defined stricter exegetical rules and new \r\nmetaphysical laws. He also created an alliance between philosophy and theurgy \r\nand insisted on the philosophical value of various religious traditions and reli\u00ad\r\ngious-philosophical texts like the Chaldaean oracles. Iamblichus was\u00bb more\u00ad\r\nover, decisive in shaping the school curriculum and, more generally, the canon \r\nof texts that, whether philosophical or religious, carried authority for philo\u00ad\r\nsophical research. He, for instance, systematically included texts belonging \r\nto a Pythagorean tradition\u2014 a tradition which to some extent was of his own \r\nconstrual. His selection of philosophically important texts was in line with cer\u00ad\r\ntain earlier developments, but it was Iamblichus who established a real canon. \r\nIndeed, after Iamblichus the canon remained more or less stable.If we look at the importance assigned to Aristotle and the Peripatetic tra\u00ad\r\ndition, it is clear that the difference between Iamblichus and his arch-rival \r\nPorphyry does not reside in which texts were held to be worthy of profound \r\nstudy. Hie difference is situated rather in the role and status attributed to them \r\nwithin the Platonic philosophical system. From the early Imperial era onward, \r\nAristotle was seen by most Platonists as an ally, unlike the Stoics and Epicureans, \r\nwho were regarded as opponents. Yet the extent to which Aristotelian ideas \r\nwere incorporated varied greatly. Different parts of Aristotle's thought attracted \r\ndifferent Platonists and the strategies used for integrating and assimilating \r\nthem diverged. 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  • PAGE 1 OF 1
An Intellective Perspective on Aristotle: Iamblichus the Divine, 2016
By: Opsomer, Jan, Falcon, Andrea (Ed.)
Title An Intellective Perspective on Aristotle: Iamblichus the Divine
Type Book Section
Language English
Date 2016
Published in Brill’ Companion to the Reception of Aristotle in Antiquity
Pages 341-357
Categories no categories
Author(s) Opsomer, Jan
Editor(s) Falcon, Andrea
Translator(s)
Iamblichus  (ccl  245-320)  is  sometimes  called  the  second  founder  of 
Neoplatonism.1 His innovations were essential to late Neoplatonic philosophy 
as it developed in the schools of Athens in particular» but also Alexandria. These 
innovations do not just pertain to philosophical tenets» but also to philosophi­
cal method and style. Iamblichus defined stricter exegetical rules and new 
metaphysical laws. He also created an alliance between philosophy and theurgy 
and insisted on the philosophical value of various religious traditions and reli­
gious-philosophical texts like the Chaldaean oracles. Iamblichus was» more­
over, decisive in shaping the school curriculum and, more generally, the canon 
of texts that, whether philosophical or religious, carried authority for philo­
sophical  research. He, for instance, systematically included texts belonging 
to a Pythagorean tradition— a tradition which to some extent was of his own 
construal. His selection of philosophically important texts was in line with cer­
tain earlier developments, but it was Iamblichus who established a real canon. 
Indeed, after Iamblichus the canon remained more or less stable.If we look at the importance assigned to Aristotle and the Peripatetic tra­
dition, it is clear that the difference between Iamblichus and his arch-rival 
Porphyry does not reside in which texts were held to be worthy of profound 
study. Hie difference is situated rather in the role and status attributed to them 
within the Platonic philosophical system. From the early Imperial era onward, 
Aristotle was seen by most Platonists as an ally, unlike the Stoics and Epicureans, 
who were regarded as opponents. Yet the extent to which Aristotelian ideas 
were incorporated varied greatly. Different parts of Aristotle's thought attracted 
different Platonists and the strategies used for integrating and assimilating 
them diverged. Here Iamblichus made his mark, as will become clear below. [Introduction, p. 341]

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These \r\ninnovations do not just pertain to philosophical tenets\u00bb but also to philosophi\u00ad\r\ncal method and style. Iamblichus defined stricter exegetical rules and new \r\nmetaphysical laws. He also created an alliance between philosophy and theurgy \r\nand insisted on the philosophical value of various religious traditions and reli\u00ad\r\ngious-philosophical texts like the Chaldaean oracles. Iamblichus was\u00bb more\u00ad\r\nover, decisive in shaping the school curriculum and, more generally, the canon \r\nof texts that, whether philosophical or religious, carried authority for philo\u00ad\r\nsophical research. He, for instance, systematically included texts belonging \r\nto a Pythagorean tradition\u2014 a tradition which to some extent was of his own \r\nconstrual. His selection of philosophically important texts was in line with cer\u00ad\r\ntain earlier developments, but it was Iamblichus who established a real canon. \r\nIndeed, after Iamblichus the canon remained more or less stable.If we look at the importance assigned to Aristotle and the Peripatetic tra\u00ad\r\ndition, it is clear that the difference between Iamblichus and his arch-rival \r\nPorphyry does not reside in which texts were held to be worthy of profound \r\nstudy. Hie difference is situated rather in the role and status attributed to them \r\nwithin the Platonic philosophical system. From the early Imperial era onward, \r\nAristotle was seen by most Platonists as an ally, unlike the Stoics and Epicureans, \r\nwho were regarded as opponents. Yet the extent to which Aristotelian ideas \r\nwere incorporated varied greatly. Different parts of Aristotle's thought attracted \r\ndifferent Platonists and the strategies used for integrating and assimilating \r\nthem diverged. 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