Philosophy

• Published in: Greece and Rome Vol. 70; no. 2; pp. 351 - 357
• Main Author: Vázquez, Daniel
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge, UK Cambridge University Press 01.10.2023
• Subjects: Subject Reviews
• ISSN: 0017-3835; 1477-4550
• DOI: 10.1017/S0017383523000141

The Ancient Commentators of Aristotle series has recently published three important volumes. The first two are the last instalments of Simplicius’ commentary on Aristotle's Physics, the culmination of a monumental endeavour that started in 2001 and now comprises twelve books. One of these two final volumes contains the translation of Simplicius’ On Aristotle Physics 1.1–2, the other is a detailed General Introduction to the whole commentary, both authored by Stephen Menn. In his acknowledgements, Menn explains that the translation began as a joint work with Rachel Barney, who contributed, among other things, by revising early drafts, composing the paragraph summaries, and collaborating on the endnotes. Unfortunately, we are told, she had to withdraw from the project, leaving Menn to finish it and take all responsibility for the final product. The translation is accompanied by an eighteen-page preface by the series editors, Michael Griffin and Richard Sorabji (which, in fact, offers a shorter version of Menn's General Introduction), and a twelve-page note on the text and translation. The translation is, of course, careful and beautifully assembled, supplied with diagrams by Henry Mendell.