Research master thesis | Classics and Ancient Civilizations (research) (MA)
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Does every individual human being have its own Form in the intellectual world? In contrast with his Platonic forerunners, Plotinus presents in Ennead V.7 an original approach to this controversial...Show moreDoes every individual human being have its own Form in the intellectual world? In contrast with his Platonic forerunners, Plotinus presents in Ennead V.7 an original approach to this controversial question and does not hesitate to deal with the question with a perspective that is broader than purely metaphysical. He goes beyond his predecessors in trying to come up with a comprehensive and philosophically correct discussion and does not contend himself with a didactic and dogmatic repetition of the (presumed) Platonic point of view. By means of a structuralistic approach, this commentary demonstrates that Plotinus denies the existence of a Form of an individual, but instead posits an individual forming principle (logos) in the soul. In addition, it is shown that Augustine in his remarks on the Form of the individual is clearly inspired by Plotinus.Show less
Research master thesis | Classics and Ancient Civilizations (research) (MA)
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In his lecture course on Ovid's Epistula Sapphus (1481) Angelo Poliziano (1454-1494) shows himself to be a driven and original scholar, who is concerned with the restoration and revival of ancient...Show moreIn his lecture course on Ovid's Epistula Sapphus (1481) Angelo Poliziano (1454-1494) shows himself to be a driven and original scholar, who is concerned with the restoration and revival of ancient texts. In his examination of Sappho's letter Poliziano handles many different subjects: (correct) commentary practice, the rhetorical analysis of the effects of poetry, the history and poetry of Sappho, and the theory of the Greek rhetoricians Demetrius and Dionysius of Halicarnassus. Each time an innovative approach and constructive use of tradition define his method. His notes functioned as a medium for advancing classical scholarship, and especially the study of Greek literature.Show less
