Research Information System
Aristotle across Boundaries , Milan, Italy, 7 - 09 June 2023, pp.23-24
Aristotle (322 BC) and Galen (127 AD) were prominent prominent ancient Greek philosophers and scientists who made significant contributions to the field of cosmology. Despite their similarities in many aspects, they nevertheless differed greatly in terms of crucial philosophical sub-disciplines such as cosmology. This paper aims to explore the differences between Aristotle and Galen's views on cosmology and show that Galen was a staunch follower of Plato contrary to what one would expect when stumbled upon his oeuvre’s seemingly Aristotelian nature. In his work “On the Heavens” (De Caelo), Aristotle advocated for a geocentric model of the universe, where the Earth was at the center and all other celestial bodies orbit around it in circular paths. This belief was influenced by Aristotle’s philosophical principles, which emphasized the idea of a perfect and unchanging universe. Aristotle believed that the motion of celestial bodies was driven by the desire for perfection, and that the circular motion of planets was a manifestation of this desire. Furthermore, Aristotle espoused a infinite, eternal universe with no beginning or end. On the other hand, Galen, a physician and philosopher, although still believed in a geocentric model of the universe, differed from Aristotle in the sense that for Galen the position of the sun was the best of all possible celestial order, and hence measured at the backdrop of other celestial bodies (De Usu Partium i. 176 Helmreich; Manāfiʿ al-aʿḍāʾ). Galen's views on cosmology were influenced by his understanding of physics and his observation of the motion of celestial bodies. He believed that the universe was governed by natural laws, and that the motion of planets could be explained by a combination of circular motion and inertia. Additionally, Galen believed in a universe that had a beginning and would eventually come to an end, a view that was influenced by his scientific observations and experimentation. The differences between Aristotle and Galen’s views on cosmology can be attributed to their respective fields of study and philosophical perspectives. Aristotle’s views on cosmology were largely based on his philosophical principles (i.e. the beginning of motion) whereas Galen’s views were grounded observation and experimentation. However, this claim is not without its critics. While Galen was known for his appropriation of Aristotle’s work, particularly in the realm of physiology, especially in his Manāfiʿ al-aʿḍāʾ(De Usu Partium) which is Aristotelian in many respects since it heavily leans on Aristotle’s Historia Animalium and De Partibus Animalium, it is interesting to note that he did not fully adopt Aristotle’s views on cosmology, rather generally prioritized Plato’s views as can be seen in his commentary on Timaeus (extant in Arabic). Therefore, there appears to be a perplexity caused by Galen’s eclectic approach. This argument can further be developed if the influence of Aristotle’s De Caelo, De Generatione et Corruptione analyzed in detail. Galen’s views on cosmology were a unique blend of rejection of Aristotelian cosmology on the one hand and welcoming of Platonic cosmology on the other. By using Galen’s famous commentary, which sparked a lot of discussions among neo-Aristotelians, I will argue that Galen had defended a Platonism which was a result of his dialectical encounters with and rejection of Aristotelians in Rome. For what it is worth, such a current shall shed light on the Roman philosophy culture of time extended far beyond Alexandria through the debates between Galen and Alexander of Aphrodisias, and further to Andalucía through rejection of Galenic cosmology by Maimonides (d. 1204).