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Document Details : Title: Aristotle's Physics in Job of Edessa's Book of Treasures Author(s): GLIGORIJEVIC, Kosta Journal: Le Muséon Volume: 135 Issue: 3-4 Date: 2022 Pages: 373-392 DOI: 10.2143/MUS.135.3.3291200 Abstract : This paper concerns the use of Aristotelian physical doctrines in the Book of Treasures, a Syriac encyclopedic work composed in Baghdad by the physician and translator Job of Edessa (d. ca. 835). In particular, the paper examines whether Job’s knowledge of Aristotle is based on direct acquaintance with Aristotle’s works or rather on intermediate sources. After examining perceived parallels between the Book of Treasures and Aristotle’s physical writings (Physics, On Generation and Corruption, De Caelo, and the Meteorology), the paper concludes that Job likely had no direct access to Aristotle’s texts, a few direct references and verbatim quotes notwithstanding. Instead, the views ascribed to Aristotle most likely stem from intermediate sources such as commentaries and doxographical reports. The paper concludes by identifying one particularly promising source of Job’s knowledge of Aristotle, namely John Philoponus’s commentary on Aristotle’s On Generation and Corruption. |
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