The Decline and Fall of the Neoplatonic Interpretation of Plato: An Outline and Some Observations (review)

364 HISTORY OF PHILOSOPHY creasing independence of his predecessors: (1) the provability of the temporal beginning of the universe; (2) the indestructibility of the universe; and (3) the truth of a Platonic theory of creation out of primordial matter. Whereas Maimonides and Aquinas claimed that the temporal origin of the universe is not scientifically provable but is to be believed on the basis of religious tradition, Gersonides believed that he had succeeded in demonstrating this doctrine. His arguments fall into two classes: (1) proofs from the teleological structure of the universe; and (2) reductio arguments showing that Aristotle's claim that time is infinite is absurd. It is in connection with the latter claim that Gersonides was critical of some central points in Aristotle's philosophy of nature, especially his doctrine of the infinite. On the question of the indestructibility of the universe Gersonides pushed Maimonides 's sympathy for this view to the point of making it a philosophical-scientific truth. Contrary to Aristotle, he argued that even though the universe had a beginning it does not have an end. Contrary to Maimonides, he claimed that the indestructibility of the universe does not depend upon God's will, but is a necessary fact. For to suggest that God could destroy the universe if He so chooses is to suggest that God could have a good reason for this choice. But, he argues, God can have no such reason! Here the Leibnizian overtone is evident. Gersonides was most original in his criticism of the traditional doctrine of creation ex nihilo, a thesis that was defended or preferred by almost all of the medieval creationists . To Gersonides this doctrine was absurd; he therefore formulated a revised Platonic theory of creation out of primordial matter, removing the objections levelled by Aristotle against Plato's version of this idea. Throughout his discussion of these and of the many other topics in Gersonides's philosophy Touati evinces complete mastery of the difficult Hebrew text and of the relevant philosophical literature. Moreover, his philosophical judgment is usually sound and insightful. This is indeed a major contribution to the literature of medieval philosophy . SEYMOUR FELDMAN Rutgers University, New Brunswick The Decline and Fall o] the Neoplatonic Interpretation o/Plato: An Outline and Some Observations. By E. N. Tigerstedt. Commentationes Humanarum Litterarum, 52. (/-Ielsinki: Societas Scientiarum Fennica, 1974. Pp. 108. Finn Marks 20) This fascinating study deals with the changing interpretation of Plato through the centuries. Perhaps more than any other Western philosopher, Plato has been subjected to a vast number of different interpretations and viewpoints. This may at first glance seem somewhat puzzling, since we still possess in an integral form all of the genuine works of Plato known in antiquity (in addition to a number of spurious ones). One reason that such a variety of differing interpretations has arisen is, of course, due to the richness, subtlety, and inconclusiveness of the writings themselves. Another reason, however, lies in the fact that, according to a long tradition, there existed in antiquity an "esoteric" or oral teaching of Plato, which was not set down in the written works. This gave rise to a variety of different types of Platonism, often only marginally related to the written works. Thus, strongly theological and mystical interpretations of Platonism arose in antiquity and have continued to have appeal down to the present day. Tigerstedt's study covers the period from the consolidation of the Platonic School in antiquity down to the time of Hegel and Schleiermacher. Particular emphasis is given to the period from Ficino to the Cambridge Platonists, when modern Neoplatonism took on its characteristic form. There is also, however, due attention given to a number of little known seventeenth- and eighteenth-century figures, who play an BOOK REVIEWS 365 important role in the story. The author's principal aim is to sketch the changing interpretations of Plato, particularly, as the title indicates, the process by which the Neoplatonic interpretation declined during the sixteenth, seventeenth, and eighteenth centuries . Already in antiquity there were a variety of different ways of interpreting Plato. What is more, this was realized quite early, as we see from the ancient distinctions among the Old, Middle, and...