Some Notes on the History of the Interpretations of the Timaeus (28 B 7) : An Aspect of Interaction between Christianity and Platonism

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  • 《ティマイオス》(28B7)解釈史ノート : ギリシア哲学とクリスト教との交流の一断面
  • ティマイオス 28B7 カイシャクシ ノート ギリシア テツガク ト クリストキョウ ト ノ コウリュウ ノ イチ ダンメン

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In many of Plato's dialogues, the Timaeus had been most influential on the formation of Christian theology because of its affinity to the Christian doctrine of creation. But there were many controversial and difficult passages in it both for the Christians and the Platonists, especially 28 B 7. In it Plato declares that the universe "γεγονεν". How to interpret this statement had been the object of discussions on both sides, and also between them. There had been disagreement even among the so-called Middle Platonists and Neoplatonists as to whether to interpret this passage literally or allegorically, whether Plato believed in a temporal genesis or only in a causal one. On account of its close relationship to the problem of the eternity of the universe, this passage had been the more vehemently argued. I have tried in this paper to trace briefly the history of the various interpretations from Atticus to Proclus and to make clear the fundamental difference between the Christian doctrine of creation and the Neoplatonic cosmology. Special emphasis has been laid on the Proclus' commentary on the Timaeus and John Philopon's De aeternitate mundi contra Proclum.

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