SIMPLICIUS ON ARISTOTLE’S PARADOX OF THE NOW

Abstract

This article analyzes Simplicius’s interpretation of Aristotle’s theory of the now, a central issue for understanding Aristotle’s philosophy of time. It first examines Simplicius’s interpretation of Aristotle’s account in Physics IV and then his reassessment of the same problem in Physics VI. It argues that Simplicius’s interpretation is deeply informed by Neopythagorean thought, especially in his account of the sameness of the now, while at the same time showing that he remains, by and large, faithful to Aristotle by resisting the introduction of vertical differentiations or phases of the now. The article further shows that Simplicius’s interpretation exemplifies the distinctive philosophical profile of the ancient commentary tradition, in which exegesis and philosophical synthesis are inseparable. Finally, it identifies Simplicius’s assessment of Aristotle as a major source for influential modern interpretations of Aristotle’s theory of time, including both those that develop his reading and those that react against it from a more orthodox Peripatetic perspective.