Abstract
John Philoponus was a sixth-century commentator on Aristotle who lived between 490–570 CE. “John” was his Christian name, while “Philoponus” was a nickname given to him by various philosophers (which literally means “lover of work”), though he much preferred “the Grammarian.” Philosophically, Philoponus was perhaps the most brilliant of all the Ancient Commentators, developing some of the most stinging criticisms of Aristotelianism in history. He disagreed with Aristotle on such important matters as dynamics, optics, the existence of void, and the need for a fifth element. These criticisms in turn gave rise to a series of innovative ideas, placing Philoponus among the important scientific thinkers of Late antiquity. His religious beliefs were no less radical and controversial, which eventually led him to be condemned posthumously in 680 CE by the Third Council of Constantinople. This entry examines Philoponus’ most sustained attacks on Aristotelian science, including Aristotle’s position on motion, prime matter, space, and void.
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Henry, D. (2020). John Philoponus. In: Lagerlund, H. (eds) Encyclopedia of Medieval Philosophy. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-024-1665-7_278
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