PJ23_S469-486_Sauter_Bedeutung des Neuplatonismus für die antike und mittelalterliche Philosophie

Der Neiiplatoiiismus, seine Bedeutung für die antike und mittelalterliche Philosophie..

V o n D r. C o n s t a n t in S a u t e r in M ü n c h e n .

(S ch lu s s .)

3. Geschichtlicher IIeh erblick über den Einfluss des Neuplatonismus bis auf Albertus Magnus.

W ä h r e n d n o c h P r o k lu s u n d d ie le t z t e n A u s l ä u f e r d e r a t h e n is c h e n S c h u le d a s a n tik e E r b e h ü t e t e n , w a r d o c h s ic h t lic h d e r A u g e n b lic k g e ­ k o m m e n , d a d ie V e r t r e t e r d e s a lte n G r ie c h e n t u m s d ie A r b e it n ie d e r le g e n k o n n t e n . E s h ä tte d e s M a c h t s p r u c h e s v o n S e it e n d e s K a is e r s J u stin ia n n ic h t b e d u r f t , u m d ie S c h u le v o n A t h e n z u s c h lie s s e n . M it tle r w e ile s c h lu g e n ü b e r d e r g e s a m t e n a n tik e n W e l t · d ie W o g e n d e r V ö lk e r w a n d e r u n g z u ­ s a m m e n . U n d a ls sie s ic h w ie d e r g e le g t , u n d d ie V ö l k e r s ic h v o n d e r la n g e n W a n d e r f a h r t m ü d e n ie d e r g e la s s e n h a t te n , s a h m a n z u m g r ö s s t e n T e il T r ü m m e r , u n d d a s T r a u r ig e w a r n o c h d ie s e s , d a s s e s s e lb s t a m V e r ­ s tä n d n is fü r d ie s e fe h lt e . D ie P h ilo s o p h ie a b e r w a r n a c h O s te n g e f lo h e n , u m b e i d e n S y r e r n u n d A r a b e r n e in e H e im s tä tte z u fin d e n u n d s o la n g e z u v e r b le ib e n , b is d ie M a c h t d e r la t e in is c h e n G r a m m a tik u n d D ia le k tik d ie w ild e n B a r b a r e n h o r d e n b e z w u n g e n h a tte . D ie H a u p t q u e lle d e r I d e e n la g a b e r im S c h o s s e d e r K ir c h e ; s ie w a r d ie E r z ie h e r in , s ie b a r g a u c h d ie T r a d it io n e n d e s v e r g a n g e n e n r ö m is c h e n W e l t r e i c h e s ; in ih r e n g r o s s e n D e n k e r n h a tte n d ie P h ilo s o p h e n d e s A lt e r t u m s N a c h fo lg e r g e fu n d e n .

1. D ie ü b e r r a g e n d s t e G e sta lt in d e r a b e n d lä n d i s c h e n K ir c h e ist a b e r S . A u g u s t i n u s . S e in e w e lt h is t o r is c h e B e d e u t u n g a ls L e h r e r d e r K ir c h e u n d d e r E in d r u c k s e in e r g e w a lt ig e n P e r s ö n lic h k e it la s s e n a u c h d e n E in flu s s e r r a t e n , d e n e r a ls P h ilo s o p h a u f d a s A b e n d la n d a u s g e ü b t h a t . M a n w ir d d ie F r ü h s c h o la s t ik b is z u m E in d r in g e n d e r g r o s s e n a r is t o t e lis c h e n S c h r if t e n ­ m a s s e s te ts u n r ic h t ig d a r s t e lle n , w e n n m a n n ic h t a ls ih r e e r s te u n d v o r ­ n e h m s t e Q u e lle d ie S c h r if t e n A u g u s t in s b e t r a c h t e t . D ie s p ä r lic h e n lo g is c h e n S c h r ift e n a u s d e n a r is t o t e lis c h e n O r g a n e n m it P o r p h y r s I s a g o g e , d e r p l a ­ t o n is c h e T im a e u s m it d e m C h a lc id iu s k o m m e n t a r , d ie S c h r if t e n d e s B o e t h iu s e n d lic h , s ie a lle z u s a m m e n , d ie im g r o s s e n G a n z e n d a s v o n d e r A n t ik e h e r ü b e r g e r e t t e t e p h ilo s o p h is c h e M a te r ia l b ild e n , w o lle n n ic h t s b e d e u t e n im V e r g l e i c h e z u d e m b e i A u g u s t in n ie d e r g e le g t e n R e ic h t u m a n g r ie c h is c h e r

Philosophisches Jahrbuch 1ÍH0. 33

4 70 C onstantin Sautef.

P h ilo s o p h ie . In A u g u s t in s S c h r if t e n G iesst a u c h d ie e r s te Q u e lle d e s N e u ­ p la t o n is m u s fü r d a s M itte la lte r , s o w ie a lle a n d e r n G r u n d g e d a n k e n d e r g r ie c h is c h e n S y s t e m e in s e in e m m ä c h t i g e n G e is te le b e n d ig s i n d 1).

A u g u s t in s „ B e k e n n t n is s e “ s in d fü r u n s n ic h t b lo s s d ie u n n a c h a h m lic h e U r k u n d e v o n s e in e r s it t lic h e n u n d r e lig iö s e n U m w a n d lu n g , s o n d e r n a u c h v o n s e in e r p h ilo s o p h is c h e n E n t w ic k lu n g . Z w a r m u s s g e r a d e b e i d e n C o n ­ f e s s io n e s b e a c h t e t w e r d e n , d a s s s ie v o n A u g u s t in u s d e m B is c h ö fe u n d k ir c h lic h e n T h e o l o g e n g e s c h r ie b e n s i n d , d e r d ie p h ilo s o p h is c h e E n t ­ w ic k lu n g d e s A u g u s t in u s v o r u n d u n m it t e lb a r n a c h d e r T a u fe n ic h t m it d e r h is t o r is c h e n T r e u e s c h i ld e r n k a n n u n d w ill. B e i A u g u s t in h a t d ie H o c h s c h ä t z u n g d e r P h ilo s o p h ie j e n a c h d e m L e b e n s a l t e r e in e V e r ä n d e r u n g e r fa h r e n * 2). D e r h o c h b e g a b t e J ü n g lin g , d e m d ie v o n d e r M u tte r e m p fa n g e n e n c h r is t lic h e n L e h r e n im s in n e n f r o h e n K a r t h a g o a ls b a ld a ls s u p e r s tit io p u e r ilis ( D e b e a ta v i t a I 4 ) e r s c h ie n e n , g riff, v o n d e r S e h n s u c h t n a c h W a h r h e it g e d r ä n g t , z u C ic e r o s H o r te n s iu s . D e r In h a lt e r g r iff ih n , d r ä n g t e ih n a b e r d e r S e k t e d e r M a n ic h ä e r e n t g e g e n , d e n e n e r n e u n J a h r e la n g e ifr ig s ic h z u g e s e llt e . D ie S e h n s u c h t n a c h K la r h e it e r fü llt e s ic h n ic h t , u n d d ie b itt e r e E n t t ä u s c h u n g ü b e r d ie m a n ic h ä i s c h e K o s m o lo g i e u n d M y t h o lo g ie s c h r ie la u t a u f ; e in H e lfe r in d e r N o t w a r d ie S k e p s is d e r A k a d e m ie . S ie b e ­ fr e it e ih n v o n d e r m a t e r ie lle n D e n k w e is e d e r M a n ic h ä e r . S e in 3 1 . L e b e n s ­ ja h r b r a c h t e d ie E n t s c h e id u n g u n d fü h r te ih m d ie S c h r if t e n d e r N e u - p la t o n ik e r z u , d ie M a riu s V ic t o r in u s R h e t o r ü b e r s e t z t h a t t e 3 * * * * *). N o c h d ie

*) W i l l m a n n a. a. O. II g ib t e in e g r o s s z ü g ig e u n d g lä n z e n d e D a rstellu n g v o n A u g u stin s P h ilo s o p h ie , v e r w is c h t a b e r z u m T e il d ie d u r c h d ie h e te r o g e n e n B e s ta n d te ile e n tsta n d e n e n U n a u s g e g lic h e n h e ite n ; A d. H a r n a c k a. a. 0 . I ll 56 ff., D e r s e lb e , A u g u stin s C o n fe s s io n e n , G ie sse n 1 9 0 3 3 ; F r ie d r ic h W ö r t e r , D ie G eistes­

e n tw ic k lu n g d es hl. A u re l. A u g u stin u s b is zu s e in e r T a u fe , P a d e r b o r n 1892 ; H e rm a n n R e u t e r , A u g u s tin is c h e S tu d ien , G oth a 1887 ; H a u c k , R e a le n z y k lo p ä d ie A r tik e l „ A u g u s tin u s “ 2 5 7 ff., Ü e b e r w e g a. a. 0 . I I 9 119 ff., G eorg v. H e r t - l i n g , A u g u stin , M a in z 1902,

2) V o n d e n N e u p la to n ik e r n sa g t A u g u s tin

D e civit. D e i

V i l i 5 : „n u lli n o b is , q u a m isti, p r o p iu s a c c e s s e r u n t “ ;

I b id . X I :

„ o m n iu m p h ilo s o p h o r u m m e r ito n o b ilis s im o s “ ;

Ibid.

V i l i 6 : „ o m n ib u s lo n g e p r a e fe r e n d o s in q u a lib e t p h ilo ­ s o p h ia e p a r t e .“ Ja, es fe h le ih n e n n u r w e n ig , u m C h risten s e in zu k ö n n e n . I n d en R e t r a k ta tio n e n I h ä lt A u g u stin ü b e r s e in e B e g e is te ru n g fü r d ie N e u - p la to n ik e r se lb st G e rich t : „L a u s q u o q u e ip sa, q u a P la t o n e m v e l P la t o n ic o s seu A c a d e m ic a e p h ilo s o p h o s ta n tu m e x tu li, q u a n tu m im p io s h o m in e s n o n op ortu it, n o n im m e r ito m ih i d is p lic u it.“

“) R e in h o ld S c h m i d , M ariu s V ic t o r in u s R h e to r u n d sein e B e z ie h u n g e n zu A u g u stin , K ie l 1895. V ic to r in u s se lb s t g e h t n ic h t b lo s s v o n n e u p la t o n is c h e n V o ra u ss e tz u n g e n aus, s o n d e r n h a t g e r a d e z u e in n e u p la t o n is c h e s S y s te m a u f c h r is tlic h e r G ru n d la g e g e s c h a ffe n . S e in e s e lb stä n d ig e n W e r k e s c h e in t ü b r ig e n s A u g u stin n ic h t b e n ü tz t z u h a b e n . V ic to r in u s e rh ie lt in d e n C o n fe s s io n e s v o n A u g u s tin ein g lä n z e n d e s D en k m a l, sp ä ter h at A u g u s tin d e s s e n th e o lo g is c h e A n sic h te n b e k ä m p ft (v g l. a u c h d e n tr e fflic h e n A rtik e l „V ic t o r in u s “ in S m ith a n d W a c e

D ictionary o f C hristian Biography,

L o n d o n 1887, 1129).

C o n f e s s io n e n la s s e n e r k e n n e n , in w e lc h k ü h n e n E n th u s ia s m u s A u g u s t in g e r is s e n w u r d e .. N o c h m e h r a b e r la s s e n d ie T r a k t a te u n d B r ie fe , d ie E r s t lin g s s c h r ift e n v o r u n d n a c h d e r T a u fe d ie F r ü c h t e d e s S t u d iu m s d e r N e u p la t o n ik e r e r k e n n e n . A u g u s t in u s h a t s p ä t e r m it c h r is t lic h e m A u g e d ie n e u p la t o n is c h e n S c h r if t e n b e t r a c h t e t . E r g la u b te in ih n e n d a s G r u n d t h e m a d e r jo h a n n e is c h e n L o g o s le h r e z u fin d e n . „ I n je n e n B ü c h e r n la s ic h , w e n n a u c h n ic h t d e m W o r t la u t n a c h , d a s s im A n fä n g e d a s W o r t w a r u n d d a s s d ie s e s b e i G o tt u n d G o tt d a s W o r t w a r . „ Q u ia v e r o in s u a p r o p r ia v e n it e t s u i e u m n o n r e c e p e r u n t . . ., n o n ib i le g i. S e d q u ia ' v e r b u m c a r o f a c t u m e s t e t h a b it a v it in n o b is , n o n ib i le g i.“ W o h l g la u b te e r in j e n e n B ü c h e r n z u le s e n , d a s s d e r e w ig e L o g o s a lle E in z e ls e e le n e r le u c h t e , u n d s ie d u r c h T e iln a h m e a n ih m d ie W e is h e it e m p fa n g e n . „ Q u o d a u t e m s e c u n d u m t e m p u s p r o im p iis m o r t u u s e s t . . . , n o n e s t i b i“ *). A ls u n m it t e lb a r e F o lg e s c h ild e r t e r d a n n d e n E in z u g in d a s e ig e n e in n e r e u n d d ie F r e u d e , G o tt a ls u n ­ k ö r p e r lic h e , g e is t ig e W e s e n h e it e r fa s s t z u h a b e n , w a s ih m a u f m a n ic h ä i s c h e m B o d e n n ie m ö g lic h w a r * 2). D u r c h d e n N e u p la t o n is m u s w a r e n d ie tie fe n S c h ä c h t e v o n A u g u s t in s I n n e r lic h k e it e r b r o c h e n ; d ie e in m a l in F la m m e n g e r a t e n e m y s t is c h e u n d k o n t e m p la t iv e S e e l e A u g u s t in s ist n ie m e h r e r k a lte t.

M a n m ü s s te z u m B e w e is e g a n z e S e it e n a u s d e n a u g u s t in is c h e n S c h r ift e n s p r e c h e n la s s e n , a llü b e r a ll k o m m t d ie G o tt e r g r iffe n h e it z u m A u s d r u c k ; d ie s e G r u n d s t im m u n g h a t ih n n ie m e h r v e r la s s e n , s ie ist a u c h v o r h a n d e n , w o s ie u n t e r d ie d o g m a t is c h e F o r m u lie r u n g s ic h b e u g e n m u s s .

D o c h w ü r d e m a n in d ie I r r e g e h e n , w o llt e m a n d ie a u g u s t in is c h e M y s tik , d ie in e r s t e r L in ie v o m N e u p la t o n is m u s e n t z ü n d e t ist, g a n z a u s ih m a b le ite n . D ie S o lilo q u ie n A u g u s t in s , d ie k u r z n a c h d e r d u r c h d e n N e u p la t o n is m u s h e r b e ig e fü h r t e n K risis a u s d e r F e d e r A u g u s t in s flö s s e n , la s s e n b e r e it s im P r o g r a m m e : „ D e u m e t a n im a m s c ir e c u p io . N ih il n e p l u s ? N ih il o m n i n o “ e r k e n n e n , u m w ie v ie le s in n ig e r u n d w ä r m e r d ie B e z ie h u n g e n d e r S e e le z u m G ö t t lic h e n s ic h g e s ta lt e t h a b e n , u n d w ie v ie l fe in e r A u g u s t in u s d ie G e h e im n is s e d e s S e e le n le b e n s z u e r la u s c h e n u n d d a r ­ z u s t e lle n w e is s . D ie m o n o t h e is t is c h e G r u n d la g e u n d d ie c h r is t lic h e R e lig i o n b o t e n n e u e B e z ie h u n g e n z u r G o tth e it, d ie P lo t in u n d s e in e S c h u le a u c h n ic h t v o n f e r n e a h n e n k o n n t e n 3). D a s „ f e c i s t i n o s a d T e , et in q u ie t u m

*)

Confessiones

VII 9 ff., d ie s tilistis c h e M e is te rsc h a ft k o m m t in d en p r ä g n a n te n G e g e n ü b e r s te llu n g e n zu m A u sd ru c k . A u g u stin u s h a t d a s a fr ik a n is c h e L a t e in n o c h w ir k s a m e r v e r w e r t e t als T e r tu llia n (v g l. E d u a rd N o r d e n , K u n st­

p r o s a II).

2)

Conf.

V II 2 0 : „ S e d h u n c le c t is P la t o n ic o r u m illis lib ris p o s te a q u a m in d e a d m o n itu s q u a e re r e in c o r p o r e a m v e r ita te m in v is ib ilia tu a p e r ea q u a e fa c ta su n t in te lle c t a c o n s p e x i et r e p u ls u s s e n s i . . . c e r tu s esse te et in fin itu m e s s e . . . et v e r e te e s s e .“

3) H a r n a c k rü h m t d ie p s y c h o lo g is c h e M e is te r sc h a ft A u g u stin s, b e z e ic h n e t ih n als w a h r e n A r is t o te le s e in e r n e u e n W is s e n s c h a ft (P s y c h o lo g ie ), d ie es fr e i-

30*

Bedeutung des Neuplatonismus f. d. antike u. mittelalterl. Philosophie. 471

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Co nstan tin Sauter.

412

e s t c o r n o s t r u m , d o n e c r e q u ie s c a t in T e “ ist d ie P o r t a lü b e r s c h r if t z u A u g u s t in s M y s tik u n d g e h t t ie fe r a ls d e r N e u p la t o n is m u s . D ie S t r u k t u r d e s m y s t is c h e n B a u e s is t a b e r n e u p la t o n is c h .

E in e P lo t in s c h e M a x im e is t d a s M o t to A u g u s t in s : n o li fo r a s ir e , in te r e d i, in in t e r io r e h o m in e h a b it a t v e r i t a s * 1). D ie g r ie c h is c h e F r e u d e a n d e r E r k e n n tn is is t in A u g u s t in s D r ä n g e n n a c h W a h r h e it n o c h m e h r g e a d e l t ; d ie E r k e n n t n is d e r W a h r h e it fä llt ih m m it d e r G lü c k s e lig k e it z u s a m m e n : b e a t a v ita e s t g a u d iu m d e v e r i t a t e 2).

E in e n fu n d a m e n t a le n U n t e r s c h ie d g e g e n d ie n e u p la t o n is c h e M y stik b ild e t a b e r A u g u s t in s F e s t h a lt e n a m S c h ö p f u n g s b e g r if f. E r tr e n n t in s c h a r f e r W e i s e d ie e w ig e , u n v e r ä n d e r lic h e G o tth e it u n d d ie g e s e h ö p f lic h e N a tu r d e s M e n s c h e n . E r ja g t m it s e in e n g o t t s u c h e n d e n B lic k e n d u r c h d a s g a n z e W e lt a ll, fr a g t d ie E r d e , d ie w e h e n d e n L ü ft e , d e n g a n z e n D u n s tk r e is , S o n n e , M o n d u n d S t e r n e , s ic h s e lb s t, d ie e ig e n e S e e le u n d a lle r u fe n in la u t e m C h o r e : n o n s u m u s d e u s t u u s ; q u a e r e s u p e r n o s ; n o n s u m u s d e u s , ip s e n o s f e c i t 3). D ie a u g u s t in is c h e M y s tik is t n ic h t m o n is t is c h , w ie d ie n e u p la t o n is c h e .

W i e P lo t in d a s m y s t is c h e A u fs t e ig e n in S t u fe n e in g e te ilt , s o u n t e r ­ s c h e i d e t a u c h A u g u s t in u s s ie b e n G r a d e . S o b a l d d ie s itt lic h e R e in h e it e r r e ic h t is t, ste h t d ie S e e le u n m it t e lb a r v o r d e r W a h r h e it , d ie s ie b e t r a c h t e t u n d z u le t z t s c h a u t. „ I n d e r B e t r a c h t u n g d e r W a h r h e it a b e r lie g t e in s o lc h e r G e n u s s , e in e s o l c h e R e in h e it u n d e in s o g e fe s t ig t e r G la u b e , d a s s m a n e in - sie h t, fr ü h e r , d a m a n e tw a s z u w is s e n g la u b te , g a r n ic h t s g e w u s s t z u h a b e n , u n d d a s s d e r T o d , d e n m a n f r ü h e r g e fü r c h t e t h a tte , n u n a ls d ie L o s lö s u n g v o n d ie s e m K ö r p e r fü r d a s h ö c h s t e G u t g e h a lt e n w i r d “ 4). P lo t in v e r la n g t e a ls e r s t e B e d in g u n g d ie R e in ig u n g , d a n n d ie V e r s e n k u n g in d a s r e in e E r ­ k e n n e n , b is d ie v e r z ü c k e n d e V e r b in d u n g m it d e r G o tt h e it e in tritt.

D e r T o d fü h r t b e i P lo t in fü r e in e p h ilo s o p h is c h e S e e le n u r d e n U e b e r - g a n g z u d e r n ä c h s t h ö h e r e n S t u fe h e r b e i. V o n e in e m H e r b e is e h n e n d e s T o d e s is t j e d o c h n ic h t d ie R e d e .

D ie M y s tik P lo t in s ist u n t e r d e n w ä r m e n d e n S t r a h le n v o n A u g u s t in s G e is t u n d H e r z z u e in e r h e r r lic h e n B lü te e r s ta n d e n .

U n v e r k e n n b a r is t f e r n e r , d a s s A u g u s t in d e n n e u p la t o n is c h e n S c h r ift e n d ie I d e e n le h r e s o w ie d ie U n t e r s c h e id u n g z w is c h e n e in e r s in n lic h e n u n d ü b e r ­ lic h v e r g e s s e n z u h a b e n s c h e in e , d a ss sie als E r k e n n tn is th e o r ie u n d in n ere B e o b a c h t u n g aus d em m o n o th e is tis c h e n G la u b e n u n d d e m G e b e ts le b e n e n t­

s p r u n g e n ist.

')

A u g .,

D e vera religione

72.

*)

Conf.

X 7. G era d e d iese A n s ic h t w id e r r u ft A u g u s tin in d e n R e tra k la t.

I 588 : „ d is p lic e t q u o d te m p o r e v ita e h u iu s in s o lo a n im o sa p ien tis d ix i h a b ita re v ita m a e te r n a m .“

s)

Conf.

X 6. D a s K a p ite l ze ig t w o h l A u g u stin u s im h ö c h s te n G la n ze s e in e s s c h r ift s te lle r is c h e n K ö n n e n s .

·) De quantitate animae

70.

B e d e u tu n g d e s N e u p la to n is m u s f. d. a n tik e u. m iü e la lt e r l. P h ilo s o p h ie . 4 7 3

«

s in n lic h e n W e l t e n t n o m m e n h a t. D ie I d e e n s in d d ie P r in z ip ie n d e r D in g e , d ie e in z e ln e n D in g e s in d n a c h b e s t im m t e n G e d a n k e n g e s c h a ffe n , d ie s e G e d a n k e n a b e r r u h e n im G e is te d e s S c h ö p f e r s ; b e im E r k e n n t n is p r o z e s s e e r fa s s t d ie S e e le d a s a n d e n D in g e n W e s e n t lic h e , ih r e I d e e . A u g u s t in u s k e n n t a ls o s a c h li c h d ie e r lö s e n d e F o r m e l, d ie e r s t A v i c e n n a d e r S c h o la s t ik b r in g e n m u s s t e , v o n d e r d r e ifa c h e n E x is t e n z w e i s e d e r F o r m e n o d e r U n i­

v e r s a lie n a n te r e m , in r e u n d p o s t r e m . E s m u t e t u n s e ig e n a r tig a n , d a s s d ie g e s a m t e F r ü h s c h o la s t ik s ic h in r e in d ia le k t is c h e r W e i s e a n d e r B e a n t­

w o r t u n g d e r v o n P o r p h y r s I s a g o g e g e s t e llt e n F r a g e n a b g e q u ä lt h a t, w ä h r e n d d o c h A u g u s t in u s in lic h t v o lle r K la r h e it d ie p la t o n is c h e I d e e n le h r e m it d e n a r is t o t e lis c h e n F o r m e n v e r b u n d e n u n d b e i d e d e m M o n o t h e is m u s d ie n s tb a r g e m a c h t h a tte .

V o n g e r in g e r B e d e u t u n g is t, o b w o h l s ie h a u c h h ie r in d ie n e u p la t o - n is c h e n S p u r e n z e ig e n , d a s s A u g u s t in d ie U n b e g r e iflic h k e it u n d U n e r r e ic h ­ b a r k e it G o tte s b e t o n t u n d b is w e ile n s ic h in e in e r ä h n lic h e n a p o p h a t is c h e n T h e o lo g ie g e fä llt w ie P l o t i n 1). „ V e r i u s e u m c o g it a r i q u a m d ic i e t v e r iu s e s s e q u a m c o g it a r i. M e liu s s c ir i n e s c i e n d o . F a c iliu s d ic i q u id n o n sit D e u s q u a m q u id s it“ * 2). A u g u s t in ü b e r s p r in g t n a t ü r lic h n o c h v ie l ö ft e r als P lo t in d ie v o n ih m s e lb s t g e s e t z t e S c h r a n k e u n d s c h ild e r t G o tt in p o s i ­ t iv e n Z ü g e n .

V o n B e d e u tu n g is t a b e r , d a s s A u g u s t in o h n e Z ö g e r n d ie p lo t in is c h e T r ia s ü b e r n im m t u n d s ie im S in n e d e r c h r is t lic h e n T r in it ä ts id e e u m d e u te t . D ie in t e llig ib le W e l t is t d a s U r b ild a lle r V o llk o m m e n h e it . „ I n ilio v e r o m u n d o in te llig ib ili q u a m lib e t p a r t e m t a n q u a m t o t u m p u lc h r a m e s s e a tq u e p e r fe c t a m c o n s i d e r a n d u m e s t “ 3). D ie s e in t e llig ib le W e l t is t d ie G e s a m t h e it d e r Id e e n . P lo t in k e n n t a ls d a s E r s te d a s E in e , d a n n d e n

vovg,

d a s R e i c h d e r I d e e n , u n d d ie W e lt s e e le ; A u g u s t in s ta tu ie r t d ie tr in a q u a e d a m u n it a s : d e n V a t e r , d e n U r h e b e r a lle s S e in , d e n S o h n , d e r a lle m d a s S o s e in g ib t, d e n h l.

G e is t, p e r q u e m o m n ia o r d in a t is s im e a d m in is t r a n t u r . D e r S o h n a ls L o g o s is t d ie in t e llig ib le W e lt . D u r c h ih n is t a lle s g e m a c h t n a c h d e n r a t io n e s r e r u m , d ie ih m in n e w o h n e n . S o w e it d ie g e d a n k lic h e W e s e n h e it in d e n D in g e n z u m A u s d r u c k k o m m t , s in d s ie u n d s in d s ie g u t u n d s c h ö n . U n d s o s t im m t A u g u s t in , d e r e in l e b e n d ig e s A u g e f ü r d ie S c h ö n h e it h a t, in d e n P lo t in s e h e n L o b p r e is a u f d ie S c h ö n h e it d e r W e l t u n d d e r N a tu r e in . A u c h

v)

G eorg L ö s c h e ,

De Augustino Plotinizante in doctrina de Deo disse­

renda

, J en a 1 8 8 0 ; D e r s e lb e , P lo t in u n d A u g u stin (Z e its c h r ift fü r k ir c h lic h e W is s e n s c h a ft u n d k ir c h lic h e s L e b e n , L e ip z ig 1 8 8 4).

a)

De trinitate

7, 4 ;

De ordine

2, 16.

3)

De ordine

II 19. A u c h d ie A n n a h m e e in e r in te llig ib le n W e lt v e r w ir ft A u g u stin : „d is p lic e t m ih i, q u o d d u os m u n d o s u n u m se n sib ile m , a lteru m in te llig i- b ile m n o n e x P la to n is v e l e x P la t o n ic o r u m p e r so n a , s e d e x m e a s ic c o m m e n d a v i, ta n q u a m h o c e tia m D o m in u s s ig n ific a r e v o lu e r it “

(Retr,

I 5 8 8 ).

474 C o ns ta n ti n Sauter.

G o tt is t d ie S c h ö n h e it . H ie r in fin d e n s ic h o ft w ö r t lic h e E n tle h n u n g e n a u s P lo t in *).

N a c h d e m M u s t e r d e r T h e o d i c e e P lo t in s ist a u c h d ie A u g u s t in s a u f­

g e b a u t . D ie W e l t ist e in e S t u fe n fo lg e v o n S c h ö n h e it . D a s B ö s e h a t k e in p o s it iv e s S e in , s o n d e r n ist n u r e in e g r ö s s e r e o d e r g e r in g e r e T e iln a h m e a m G u te n . D ie W e lt is t a b e r s o g e s c h a ff e n , d a s s a lle D in g e z w a r a n d e r S c h ö n h e it u n d G ü te A n t e il h a b e n , a b e r n ic h t in g le ic h e m M a s s e : „ n o n e s s e n t o m n ia , si e s s e n t a e q u a lia “ * 2). In d e r G e s a m t b e t r a c h tu n g a b e r e r g ä n z t ein D in g d a s a n d e r e , u n d a lle z u s a m m e n p r e is e n d ie V o r s e h u n g , d ie b is in s e in z e ln e a lle s n a c h M a s s , Z a h l u n d G e w ic h t g e o r d n e t h a t, s o d a s s d ie W e l t n a c h d e m u n u n t e r b r o c h e n e n L a u f d e s G e s e t z e s s ic h e n t w ic k e lt e n t s p r e c h e n d d e n S a m e n k r ä ft e h , d ie in d ie W e l t g e le g t s in d . N a c h A u g u s t in s tö r t a u c h d a s W u n d e r d e n W e lt la u f u n d d ie G e s e t z m ä s s ig k e it n ic h t , d a e s a u s g e ­ h e im e n S a m e n k r ä ft e n s ta m m t , d ie G o tt v o n A n fa n g an in d ie W e l t g e le g t , z u ih r e r Z e it a b e r e r s t w ir k e n lä sst. K e in Z w e i fe l, d a ss A u g u s t in in s o lc h e n G e d a n k e n b e w u n d e r n d d e n a llg e m e in e n Z u s a m m e n h a n g d e r W e l t m it d e r G o tt h e it u n d d ie lü c k e n lo s e G e s e t z m ä s s ig k e it , w ie s ie d u r c h N e u ­ p la t o n is m u s u n d S t o a n a c h g e w ie s e n w e r d e n , b e s c h r e ib t .

D ie a u g u s t in is c h e P s y c h o l o g i e v e r r ä t w e n ig s t e n s in ih r e r e r s te n P h a s e g a n z b e d e u t e n d e E in flü s s e d e s N e u p la t o n is m u s 3) . F ü r A u g u s t in w a r d ie B e r ü h r u n g d e s G e is te s m it d e r W ir k lic h k e it e tw a s G e h e im n is v o lle s . D ie s p ir itu a lis t is c h e A u ff a s s u n g d e r D in g e d r ä n g t e ih n e r s t z u d e r A n n a h m e d e r p la t o n is c h e n L e h r e v o n d e r ά ν ά μ ν η σ ι ς . „ I c h g la u b e , d a s s d ie S e e le a lle ih r e B ild u n g e n m it g e b r a c h t h a t, u n d d a s s , w a s w ir le r n e n , n ic h ts a n d e r e s ist, a ls ein G e d e n k e n u n d I n n e w e r d e n “ 4). A u f d ie g le ic h e Q u e lle is t d ie a u g u s t in is c h e L e h r e z u r ü c k z u f ü h r e n , d a s s d ie S e e le ih r e E r k e n n tn is d u r c h g ö t t lic h e E r le u c h t u n g e m p fa n g e . G o tt is t d a s g e is t ig e L ic h t u n d d ie S o n n e d e r G e is te r . D ie e r s t e r e A n s ic h t , w e l c h e d ie A n n a h m e e in e r P r ä ­ e x is t e n z d e r S e e le n z u r V o r a u s s e t z u n g h a t, w u r d e v o n A u g u s t in in d e n R e t r a k t a t io n e n a u s d r ü c k li c h w i d e r r u f e n 5) . D ie W ir k u n g d e r a u g u s tin is c h e n

*) D ie N a c h w e is e b e i L ö s c h e a. a. 0 . 344.

2)

Quaestio

83 N r. 41.

3) H e rm a n n S i e b e c k , G e s c h ic h te d e r P s y c h o lo g ie II, G oth a 1880, 381 ff.

D e r s e lb e g ib t a u c h e in e tr e fflic h e G e g e n ü b e rs te llu n g v o n A ris to te le s u n d A u gu stin in ih re r p h ilo s o p h is c h e n E ig en a rt (Z e it s c h r ift fü r P h ilo s o p h ie u n d p h ilo s o p h is c h e K ritik [1888] 188 ff.).

4)

D e quantitate animae

20.

5)

Retr.

I 8, 2 : „ i n q u o lib r o illu d q u o d d ix i o m n e s a rtes a n im a m s e c u m attu lisse m ih i v id e r i n e c a liu d q u id q u a m e s s e id q u o d d ic itu r d is c e r e q u a m r e m in is c i a c r e c o r d a r i n o n s ic a c c ip ie n d u m est q u a si e x h o c a p p r o b e tu r a n i­

m a m v e l h ic in a lio c o r p o r e v e l a lib i siv e in c o r p o r e s iv e e x tra c o r p u s a li­

q u a n d o v ix is s e et e a qu ae in te rro g a ta re s p o n d e t, c u m h ic n o n d id ic e r it, in a lia v ita an te d id ic is s e ,“

P s y c h o l o g i e is t fü r d a s M itte la lte r u n d d ie N e u z e it v o n u n g e h e u r e r T r a g ­ w e it e g e w e s e n .

2 . In d ie p h ilo s o p h is c h e L e it u n g d e r F r ü h s c h o la s t ik te ilt s ic h m it A u g u s t in u s B o e t h i u s 1). D ie e d le R it t e r lic h k e it s e in e s W e s e n s , d a s t r a g is c h e L e b e n s e n d e , d a s e r g e fu n d e n , d ie lo g is c h e M e is t e r s c h a ft , in d e r e r v o r d e m A b e n d la n d e e r s c h i e n , h a b e n z u s a m m e n g e w ir k t , u m s e in e m N a m e n u n d s e in e m W e r k e d ie B e w u n d e r u n g d e r F r ü h s c h o la s t ik u n d n o c h d e r B lü te z e it z u s ic h e r n . D a z u k a m , d a ss m a n in s e in e m T o d e e in M a r t y r iu m fü r d e n o r t h o d o x e n G la u b e n z u e r b lic k e n g e n e ig t w a r . D a n te v e r h e r r lic h t ih n S e it e a n S e it e m it d e n g r o s s e n K ir c h e n le h r e r n ; ih m w a r B o e t h iu s in v ie lf a c h e r H in s ic h t e in L e h r e r * 2). B o ë t h iu s w a r z w e if e llo s C h rist. D ie la n g e a n g e - z w e if e lt e n t h e o lo g is c h e n S c h r ift e n s c h e i n e n d e r J u g e n d z e it d e s B o ë t h iu s a n z u g e h ö r e n ; s ie g e h e n n ic h t t i e f u n d s c h e i n e n d e r F r e u d e a n d ia le k t is c h e n E n t w ic k lu n g e n e n t s p r u n g e n z u se in . A ls L o g ik e r is t e r fü r d ie F r ü h ­ s c h o la s t ik d e r e r s te L e h r e r . D a s s e r d u r c h d ie n e u p l a t o n is c h e n S c h u le n g e g a n g e n ist, b e w e is e n s e in e V e r s u c h e , P la t o u n d A r is t o t e le s in E in k la n g z u b r in g e n . S e in e U e b e r s e t z u n g e n v o n A r is t o t e le s π ε ρ 'ι ε ρ μ ε ν ε ί α ς , d ie e r in e in fa c h e r e r u n d a u s fü h r lic h e r W e i s e k o m m e n t ie r t e , s c h lie s s e n s ic h a n d ie n e u p la t o n is c h e n E r k lä r u n g e n v o n P o r p h y r u n d S y r ia n u s a n 3). D ie B e a r b e it u n g d e r ü b r ig e n l o g i s c h e n S c h r if t e n d e s a r is t o t e lis c h e n O r g a n o n ( α ν α λ υ τ ι κ ά I u n d II, σ ο φ ι σ τ ι κ ο ί ε λ έ γ χ ο ι ) b ie t e n n ic h t s E ig e n a r t ig e s u n d h a b e n fü r d ie F r ü h s c h o la s t ik le d i g lic h d ie B e d e u t u n g e in e r lo g is c h e n S t o ff­

s a m m lu n g . W o h l a b e r k o m m t d ie p h ilo s o p h is c h e G r u n d s t im m u n g d e s B o ë t h iu s in s e in e r C o n s o la tio p h il o s o p h i a e z u m A u s d r u c k . S p u r e n c h r is t ­ l ic h e r L e h r e la s s e n s ic h in ih r n ic h t f in d e n , w o h l a b e r ein s t o is c h e r S t a r k ­ m u t g e g e n ü b e r d e m h a r te n S c h ic k s a l, e in e n e u p l a t o n is c h e F r e u d e a n d e r g e s e t z m ä s s ig e n O r d n u n g d e s W e lt a lls , d ie v o n d e r g ö t t lic h e n V o r s e h u n g g e r e g e lt ist. S o w e n i g w ie d ie N e u p la t o n ik e r h ä lt B o ë t h iu s d a s B ö s e fü r e t w a s W ir k lic h e s .

M a n w ir d t r o t z d e r n e u p la t o n is c h e n F ä r b u n g in d e r D e n k w e is e d e s B o ë t h iu s d o c h n ic h t b e h a u p t e n k ö n n e n , d a s s e r d e m M itte la lte r n e u ­ p la t o n is c h e G e d a n k e n z u g e fü h r t h a t, e r w a r d e r l o g i s c h e M e is te r d e r FrühV S c h o la s tik , d e s s e n g e s c h ic h t lic h e B e d e u t u n g d a r in b e r u h t , e in e n T e il d e s a r is t o t e lis c h e n O r g a n o n a u s d e r A n t ik e in d a s M it te la lt e r h e r ü b e r g e r e t t e t z u h a b e n . Z u m V e r s t ä n d n is s e d ie s e r S c h r ift e n v e r m o c h t e n s e in e e ig e n e n A r b e it e n z w a r n ic h t t ie fg e h e n d e u n d s e lb s t ä n d ig e G e d a n k e n , j e d o c h fü r d e n l o g i s c h e n S c h u lb e t r ie b im m e r h in f ö r d e r n d e H ilfs m itt e l z u b ie t e n . D e r L e h r -

*) F r ie d r ic h N i t z s c h , D as S y s te m d es B o ë th iu s u n d d ie ih m z u g e s c h r ie b e n e n th e o lo g is c h e n S ch rifte n , B e rlin 1 8 6 0 ; Z e l l e r a. a, O. I I I a 8 5 7 ff., P a u ly , R e a l­

e n z y k lo p ä d ie 1897, A r tik e l „ B o ë t h iu s “ 596.

2) G. N. L . B a u r , B o ë th iu s u n d D a n te (F e s ts c h r ift z u m R e k t o r a ts w e c h s e l d e r U n iv ersitä t), L e ip z ig 1 8 7 3 ; R o c c o M u r a r i , D a n te e B o ezio , F ir e n z e 1897,

8) U s e n e r , A n ecd oton H old eri, L e ip z ig 1877,

Bedeutung des Neuplatonismus f. d. antike u. mittelalterl. Philosophie. 475

%

476 C onstantin Sauter.

m e is t e r d e s N e u p la t o n is m u s fü r d a s M itte la lte r w u r d e P s e u d o d io n y s iu s A r e o p a g it a .

3 . M ö g e n g le ic h d ie n e u p la t o n is c h e n In tu itio n e n v o n A n fa n g a n in d e r c h r is t lic h e n P h ilo s o p h ie u n d T h e o l o g i e fr e u d ig e A u fn a h m e g e fu n d e n h a b e n , ih r e n f e ie r lic h e n E in z u g im M o r g e n - u n d A b e n d la n d e h ie lt e n s ie d u r c h d ie S c h r ift e n d e s P s e u d o - D i o n y s i u s A r e o p a g i t a . W e r ih r e W ir k u n g in d e r g e s c h ic h t lic h e n D a r s te llu n g d e r m it t e la lt e r lic h e n P h ilo s o p h ie n ic h t in R e c h n u n g z ie h t , lä s s t e in e n d e r f e s t e s t e n S t ü t z p u n k t e a u s s e r a c h t , a u f d e m d a s m it t e la lt e r lic h e D e n k e n ru h t. A lb e r t u s w e ih t d e n D io n y s is c h e n W e r k e n s e in e K o m m e n t a r e , T h o m a s v o n A q u i n d e s g le i c h e n , u n d D a n te s c h lin g t im P a r a d is o d e n v e r k lä r e n d e n G la n z u m d ie S tir n e d e s D io n y s iu s *). D e r D ic h t e r , d e r d e n A r e o p a g it e n n e b e n T h o m a s , A lb e r t u s u n d B o e t h iu s stellt, h a n d e lt im S in n e d e r g e s a m t e n T r a d it io n , d ie d e r ü b e r h im m lis c h e n W e i s ­ h e it d e s A r e o p a g it e n ih r e B e w u n d e r u n g g e z o llt h a t. D ie D io n y s is c h e F r a g e is t h e u t e g e l ö s t ; e s s in d n u r n o c h w e n ig e , d ie s ic h d e r u n b a r m h e r z ig e n Z e r s t ö r u n g e in e r a lte n u n d lie b g e w o r d e n e n L e g e n d e w id e r s e t z e n . E s b le ib t a b e r im m e r ein P r o b le m , d a s s A b e n d - u n d M o r g e n la n d d ie v e r k ü n g te lt e u n d s c h w ä r m e r is c h e R e d e w e i s e a ls a b g r u n d t ie fe S p r a c h e , d ie s c h o l a s t is c h e n , h ie r a r c h is c h e n K o n s t r u k t io n e n a ls h o h e W e is h e it a n s e h e n k o n n t e . E s m u s s te d e r S in n fü r d a s W e s e n u n d d ie E in fa c h h e it d e s C h r is te n tu m s e r lo s c h e n s e in , u m d a s S y s t e m d e s D io n y s iu s fü r c h r is t lic h a n n e h m e n z u k ö n n e n , a u c h d e r g e s c h ic h t lic h e E in b lic k in d a s U r c h r is t e n t u m u n d s e in e I d e e n b e i d e n e n e in b e t r ü b e n d g e r in g e r s e in , d ie in P s e u d o - D io n y s iu s d e n S c h ü le r d e s A p o s t e ls P a u lu s s e h e n k o n n t e n * 2).

D ie A b f a s s u n g s z e it d e r S c h r if t e n d e s P s e u d o - D io n y s iu s r ic h t e t s ic h n a c h d e r A b f a s s u n g s z e i t d e r S c h r if t e n d e s P r o k lu s . D e s s e n K o m m e n t a r z u m P a r m e n id e s is t n a c h 4 6 2 v e r fa s s t , n o c h s p ä t e r d e r K o m m e n t a r z u m I. A l k i b i a d e s ; a u s b e id e n h a t D io n y s iu s g e s c h ö p f t . F e r n e r k a n n m it g r o s s e r W a h r s c h e in lic h k e it a n g e n o m m e n w e r d e n , d a s s d ie d io n y s is c h e n S c h r ift e n s c h w e r l i c h b e i L e b z e it e n d e s P r o k lu s e r s c h ie n e n s e in w e r d e n , d e n e n

>) D a n te P a ra d . X X V III 130.

2) U e b e r d ie D io n y s iu s fr a g e : O tto B a r d e n h e w e r , P a tr o lo g ie , F r e ib u rg 1901, 472 ff. fa sst d ie R e s u lta te n ü c h te r n u n d k la r z u s a m m e n ; H u g o K o c h , P s e u d o -D io n y s iu s A r e o p a g ita in s e in e n B e z ie h u n g e n z u m N e u p la to n ism u s u n d .M y sterien w esen , M a in z 1900,; J o s e f S t i g l m a y r , D a s A u fk o m m e n d e r p s e u d o -d io n y s is c h e n S c h r ifte n u n d ih r E in d r in g e n in d ie c h r is tlic h e L itera tu r b is z u m L a te r a n k o n z il, F e ld k ir c h 1895, 6 4 9 ; D erselb e, D er N e u p la to n ik e r P r o k lu s als V o r la g e d es s o g e n a n n t e n D io n y s iu s A r e o p a g ita in d e r L e h r e v o m U eb el, H is to r is c h e s J a h rb u ch 1 8 9 5 ; F r a n z H i p l e r ; D io n y s iu s d e r A re o p a g it, R e g e n s ­

b u rg 1861 (d e r a u s g e z e ic h n e te D io n y s iu s k e n n e r b a u t u n m ö g lic h e H y p o th e s e n a u f g e w a g te T e x t e m e n d a t io n e n ); O tto S i e b e r t , D ie M eta p h y sik u n d Ethik d es P s e u d o d io n y s iu s A r e o p a g ita , J e n a 1 8 9 4 ; H au ck , R e a le n z y k lo p ä d ie , A rtik e l

„D io n y s iu s A re o p a g i! a “ v o n M ö lle r (B o n w e t s c h ).

g e g e n ü b e r s ie h ä u fig a ls P la g ia t e e r s c h e in e n ; P r o k lu s a b e r s ta r b 4 8 5 *).

D ie e r s te B e n u t z u n g d e r d io n y s is c h e n S c h r if t e n d u r c h B is c h o f A n d r e a s v o n C ä s a r e a in C a p p a d o c ie n e r f o lg t u m d a s J a h r 5 0 0 . S o n a c h d r ä n g t s ic h ih re A b f a s s u n g s z e i t in d ie le t z t e n J a h r z e h n t e d e s 5 . J a h r h u n d e r t s z u s a m m e n . A ls O r t d e r A b f a s s u n g lä s s t s ic h n a c h v e r s c h ie d e n e n A n z e i c h e n S y r ie n b e s t im m e n . V ie lle ic h t w a r P s e u d o - D io n y s iu s s e lb s t ein S c h ü le r d e s P r o k lu s ; je d e n f a lls sta n d a u s g a n g s d e s fü n ft e n J a h r h u n d e r t s d ie P h ilo s o p h ie n ir g e n d s s o in B lü te w ie in S y r ie n . D ie s y r is c h e n U e b e r s e t z u n g e n a u s d e n W e r k e n d e r g r ie c h is c h e n P h ilo s o p h e n b ild e t e n d ie G r u n d la g e f ü r d a s E in d r in g e n d e r g r ie c h is c h e n P h ilo s o p h ie b e i d e n A r a b e r n .

D io n y s iu s s te llt a ls P r in z ip d e n U n t e r s c h ie d d e r b e ja h e n d e n u n d v e r ­ n e in e n d e n T h e o l o g i e a u f. D ie „ t h e o l o g i s c h e n H y p o t y p o s e n “ , in d e n e n e in e p o s it iv e B e h a n d lu n g d e r g ö t t lic h e n W e s e n h e it v o r li e g e , m ü s s e n w o h l als e in e M y s t ific a t io n d e s D io n y s iu s a n g e s e h e n w e r d e n ; e r h a t s ie n ie g e ­ s c h r ie b e n . D ie ü b r ig e n S c h r ift e n g e lt e n d e n g e is t ig e n W e s e n s b e n e n n u n g e n G o tte s ( π ε ρ ί -d-είω ν ο ν ο μ ά τ ω ν ) , d e r v e r n e in e n d e n T h e o l o g i e ( π ε ρ ί μ υ σ τ ι κ ή ς ϋ ε ο λ ο γ ί α ς ) , d ie in m y s t is c h e r U n w is s e n h e it d ie G o tt h e it z u e r r e ic h e n s u c h t , d e r h im m lis c h e n H ie r a r c h ie ( π ε ρ ί ο υ ρ α ν ί α ς Ι ε ρ α ρ χ ί α ς ) , d ie in a b g e s tu ft e r R a n g o r d n u n g a u s d e r G o tt h e it e n ts p r in g t , d e r k ir c h lic h e n H ie r a r c h ie ( π ε ρ ί ε κ κ λ η σ ι α σ τ ι κ ή ς ι ε ρ α ρ χ ί α ς ) , d ie g ö t t lic h e n U r s p r u n g s ist u n d d e r e n W e ih e n s ic h j e d e r u n t e r s t e lle n m u s s . D a z u k o m m e n n o c h 1 0 B r ie fe . D a s w ic h t ig s t e B u c h is t d a s v o n d e n g ö t t lic h e n N a m e n , w e il in ih m d ie t h e o lo g is c h e n u n d p h ilo s o p h is c h e n G r u n d la g e n a u s g e s p r o c h e n s i n d 2).

D ie H a u p t le h r e d e r d io n y s is c h e n T h e o l o g i e is t d ie L e h r e v o n G ott.

D ie S e e le k a n n in d r e ifa c h e r B e w e g u n g d e n V e r s u c h m a c h e n , z u ih m z u g e la n g e n . S ie k a n n d ie M a n n ig fa ltig k e it d e r D in g e b e t r a c h t e n u n d m it d e r a u s d e r S in n e n w e lt g e f lo s s e n e n E r k e n n tn is a u fw ä r ts z u r e r s te n U r s a c h e d e s U n iv e r s u m s s t e ig e n , s o v o llz ie h t s ie e in e g e r a d lin ig e B e w e g u n g . In s p ir a l­

fö r m ig e r W e i s e v e r lä u ft ih r D e n k e n , w e n n s ie a u f d is k u r s iv e m W e g e d ie G e h e im n is s e d e r G o tt h e it z u e r g r ü n d e n s u c h t . In d ie k r e is f ö r m ig e u n d v o llk o m m e n s t e B e w e g u n g le n k t d ie S e e le j e d o c h d a n n e in , w e n n s ie s ic h g a n z in. s ic h s e lb s t w ie in e in e n K r e is z u s a m m e n fa s s t , a u f a lle s W is s e n u n d D e n k e n v e r z ic h t e t , in d a s ü b e r lic h t e D u n k e l d e r U n w is s e n h e it e in ta u c h t u n d d ie m y s t is c h e E in ig u n g m it d e r G o tt h e it v o l l z i e h t 3). D e n le t z t e n W e g e m p fie h lt a u c h D io n y s iu s a ls d e n w e is e s t e n u n d g lü c k lic h s t e n im V e r e in m it P h ilo u n d d e r g a n z e n n e u p la t o n is c h e n S c h u le .

V o n d e r G o tt h e it a b e r lä s s t s ie h m it H ilfe d e r V e r n u n ft g a r n ic h t s s a g e n . D e n n a lle m B e g r iffe u n g r e ifb a r is t d a s ü b e r d e n B e g r iff h in a u s ­

*) F r e u d e n th a ls U n te rsu ch u n g e n z u d e n S c h r ifte n d es P r o k lu s im H erm es X V I 2 1 4 ff.

s) D io n y s ii A reopa gitae opera om nia stu d io B a lth . G ord erii. M ig n e P. P . Gr. 3 u n d 4, P a ris 1857.

3) D e div. nom , IV 8 : χνχΐιχως, ελίχοειδως, χατ'ενϋείαν

Bedeutung des Neiiplatonismus f. cl. antike u. mittelalterl. Philosophie. 477

478 C onstantin Sauter.

lie g e n d e E in e ; j e d e r R e d e u n a u s s p r e c h lic h d a s ü b e r a lle R e d e e r h a b e n e G u te, d ie e in e n d e E in h e it j e d e r E in h e it ; d ie ü b e r w e s e n t lic h e W e s e n h e it , d ie d e r V e r n u n ft n ic h t e r k e n n b a r e V e r n u n ft , d a s u n a u s s p r e c h lic h e W o r t , V e r n u n ft lo s ig k e it , V e r s t a n d lo s ig k e it , N a m e n lo s ig k e it , k e in e m s e ie n d e n D in g e ä h n lic h , a lle n a b e r G r u n d d e s S e in s , s e lb s t n ic h t s e ie n d , a ls d a s , w a s ü b e r a lle W e s e n h e it h in a u s ist u n d d a s a lle in v o n s ic h s e lb e r m it B e s tim m t h e it u n d W is s e n v e r k ü n d e n m a g 1). D io n y s iu s v e r k ü n d e t a ls e c h t e r N e u p la t o n ik e r d ie s c h le c h t h in ig e T r a n s z e n d e n z d e r G o tth e it. A u f s e in e c h r is t lic h e n G r u n d ­ la g e n b e s in n t e r s ic h w ie d e r , w e n n e r v e r la n g t , d a s s v o n d e r G o tt h e it n u r d a s g e s a g t u n d g e d a c h t w e r d e , w a s d ie h l. S c h r ift e n a ls S e lb s t o ffe n b a r u n g G o tte s k ü n d e n . D ie s e a u c h s in d e s , w e l c h e d ie G o tth e it a u f h e ilig e W e is e p r e is e n , a ls /uovag u n d a ls e v a g w e g e n d e r E in fa c h h e it u n d E in h e it d e r ü b e r n a t ü r lic h e n U n te ilb a r k e it. V o n ih n e n w ir d s ie a u c h a ls D r e ie in ig k e it g e fe ie r t w e g e n d e r in d r e i H y p o s t a s e n s ic h d a r s t e lle n d e n E r s c h e in u n g d e r ü b e r w e s e n t lic h e n F r u c h t b a r k e it , v o n w e l c h e r j e d e V a t e r s c h a ft im H im m e l u n d a u f E r d e n s t a m m t * 2). D ie G o tt h e it a b e r is t n a m e n lo s , ü b e r a lle N a m e n h in a u s ; u n d d o c h ist s ie w ie d e r v ie ln a m ig , w e n n m a n a u f d a s v o n ih r B e ­ w ir k t e s c h a u t ; s ie ist a lle s S e ie n d e u n d d o c h n ic h t s v o n d e m S e i e n d e n 3).

D ie v e r e in t e n N a m e n d e r G o tt h e it a b e r s in d d a s U e b e r g u t e , d a s U e b e r - g ö t t lic h e , d a s U e b e r w e s e n t lic h e , d a s U e b e r le b e n d e , d a s U e b e r w e i s e 4). D io ­ n y s iu s r ü s t e t s ic h w ie P lo t in z u m G e b e t e , e h e e r im e in z e ln e n d ie U n te r ­ s u c h u n g ü b e r d ie g ö t t lic h e n P r ä d ik a te a u fn im m t. D a s ü b e r g ö t t lic h e U r w e s e n is t G ü te u n d b r e it e t s e in e G ü te a u f a lle s S e ie n d e a u s . D ie S t r a h le n s e in e r G ü te s c h a ffe n in t e lle k t u e lle u n d in t e llig ib le W e s e n , d ie v o n o b e n ih r S e in , ih r e R a n g o r d n u n g , ih r e B e g r iffe e r h a lte n . D ie E n g e l s in d g le ic h s a m A u s ­ s p r e c h e r d e s g ö t t lic h e n S c h w e i g e n s 5). N a c h d e n E n g e ln k o m m e n d ie S e e le n , d ie g le ic h fa lls a n d e r G ü te d e s H ö c h s t e n t e ilh a b e n . A b e r a u c h a lle a n d e r n L e b e w e s e n in d e r L u ft , a u f d e r E r d e , im W a s s e r h a b e n ih r L e b e n , ih r e S e e le d u r c h d ie G ü te.

D ie h ö c h s t e G ü te is t a b e r a u c h h ö c h s t e S c h ö n h e it u n d te ilt a lle m S e ie n d e n d ie S c h ö n h e it m it, r u ft es z u s ic h , s o d a s s a lle s n a c h d e m

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είναι αγγέλους ώσπερ είςαγγελτιχάς τη ς &είας σιγής.

S c h ö n e n u n d G u te n s ie h s e h n t u n d z u ih m h in s t r e b t *). D a m it n ä h e r t s ic h D io n y s iu s d e r F r a g e n a c h d e m B ö s e n . S t a m m t a lle s S e ie n d e v o m U e b e r - g u te n h e r , u n d h a t e s v o n ih m d a s S e in , s o k a n n d a s B ö s e k e in e ig e n e s S e in h a b e n , es is t n u r M a n g e l d e s G u te n , M in d e r u n g d e s G u te n o d e r s e in e le t z t e S c h r a n k e . D ie S t u fe n fo lg e im W e lt a ll b r in g t e s m it s ic h , d a s s e in ig e s a m G u ten A n t e il h a t, a n d e r e s m e h r o d e r w e n i g e r d e s s e n b e r a u b t ist, n o c h a n d e r e s e r fr e u t s ic h n u r e in e r s c h w a c h e n d u n k le n G e g e n w a r t d e s G u ten , u n d b e i a n d e r n is t es n u r w ie s e in e ig e n e r le t z t e r N a c h h a ll. E s is t ein d io n y s is c h e r G r u n d s a t z : a lle s S e ie n d e , in s o w e it es ist, is t g u t u n d s t a m m t a u s d e m G u te n , in s o f e r n e s d e s G u t e n b e r a u b t is t, is t e s w e d e r e in G u tes n o c h e in S e i e n d e s * 2) . U e b e r d e r g a n z e n W e l t a b e r w a lte t d ie V o r s e h u n g , in ih r e r H a n d ist d a s B ö s e e in M itte l z u r V e r w ir k lic h u n g d e s G u te n . D o c h s c h a fft d ie V o r s e h u n g m it d e n G e s e t z e n d e r N a tu r , n ie g e g e n s i e ; d e n n d ie N a tu r z u v e r n ic h t e n , is t n ic h t S a c h e d e r V o r s e h u n g 3).

A u s d e m E in e n a b e r s ta m m t a lle s V ie le , s o w ie a u s e in e r W u r z e l S t a m m , A e s t e , Z w e i g e u n d B lü te n h e r v o r b r e c h e n , d ie W u r z e l b le ib t u n ­ v e r m in d e r t . D ie r e i c h e M a n n ig fa ltig k e it a lle r W e s e n s p r u d e lt a u s d e m S e ie n d e n h e r a u s w ie a u s e in e r Q u e lle , b lit z t h e r v o r w ie d ie S t r a h le n a u s d e r S o n n e . J e w e it e r d a s L ic h t h in a u ss tr a h lt, d e s t o m e h r n im m t e s a n W ir k u n g s k r a ft a b . S o e r g e b e n s ic h d ie G r a d e d e r A b s t u fu n g v o n d e r G o t t h e it ; s o s in d d ie W e s e n v o n d e r G o tth e it a u s g e g a n g e n , a u f d e n g le ic h e n S t u fe n m ü s s e n s ie z u r ü c k . N a c h d e r G o tt h e it k o m m t d ie h im m lis c h e H ie r a r c h ie , w e l c h e d a s W e r k d e r V o r s e h u n g fü r d ie u n t e r ih r s t e h e n d e ir d is c h e H ie r a r c h ie a u s z u ü b e n h at. E s is t b e k a n n t, d a s s d u r c h D io n y s iu s , d e r s e in e T r ia d e n e in t e ilu n g d e r h im m lis c h e n G e is te r a u f d e n H ie r o th e u s z u r ü c k fü h r t , d ie k ir c h lic h e A n g e l o l o g i e e n t w o r f e n w u r d e . D a n te h a t d e n d io n y s is c h e n E n g e lr e ig e n u n t e r B e n u t z u n g d e r a r is t o t e lis c h -p t o le m a e i s c h e n K o s m o l o g i e a u f d ie e in z e ln e n G e s tir n e v e r t e ilt.

U n te r d e r h im m lis c h e n H ie r a r c h ie s te h t d ie ir d is c h e . D ie s e a b e r — u n d h ie r fü g t D io n y s iu s d ie B e d e u t u n g d e r K ir c h e e in — ist d ie d u r c h C h r is tu s e r lö s t e W e lt , d e r d ie K ir c h e a ls h l. In stitu tio n g e g r ü n d e t h a t, u m a lle W e s e n z u r V e r e in ig u n g m it d e r G o tt h e it z u fü h r e n . D a r u m v e r la n g t D io n y s iu s g e h o r s a m e U n te r w ü r fig k e it u n t e r d ie W e ih e n d e r k ir c h lic h e n H i e r a r c h i e ; s ie b ild e n d ie r e in ig e n d e V o r b e d i n g u n g z u r E r k e n n t n is d e s G ö tt­

lic h e n , z u r S c h a u u n g , E in u n g u n d V e r g o t t u n g . D io n y s iu s sta tu ie r t fü r d ie s e s le t z t e Z i e l d e s M e n s c h e n d ie d r e i S t u fe n d e r R e in ig u n g , E r le u c h t u n g u n d V o lle n d u n g . D ie S e e le m u s s s ic h z u e r s t v o n a lle r S in n lic h k e it b e fr e ie n m it d e n M itte ln , d ie D io n y s iu s b a ld im B e r e ic h e d e s n a t ü r lic h e n W is s e n s ,

*) D io n y s iu s b r in g t χάλλο; m it χ α ΐε ϊν zu sa m m e n .

2j D e div. nom. IV 20 :

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Bedeutung des Neuplatonismus f. d. antikem, mittelalterl. Philosophie. 479

480 Constan lin Sauter.

b a ld in d e n k ir c h lic h e n M y s t e r ie n e m p fie h lt . D a n n w ir d d ie S e e le v o n o b e n h e r e r le u c h t e t , a n fä n g lic h n u r s c h w a c h , d a n n im m e r r e ic h e r , b is s c h l ie s s ­ li c h d ie v ö llig e E in ig u n g m it d e r G o tth e it ein tritt.

E s b e d a r f k e in e r E r ö r t e r u n g d a r ü b e r , d a s s im S y s t e m e d e s D io n y s iu s A r e o p a g it a d e r N e u p la t o n is m u s d ie p h ilo s o p h is c h e G r u n d la g e b ild e t . E s lä s s t s ic h s o g a r d e r k o n k r e t e u n d s p e z ie lle A b h ä n g ig k e it s b e w e is v o n P r o k lu s f ü h r e n ') . N e u p la t o n is c h is t d ie ä u s s e r e F a s s u n g , d ie S c h r iftt ite l, d ie E in ­ g a n g s - u n d U e b e r g a n g s fo r m e n , a u c h d a s G e b e t b u c h d e s D io n y s iu s h a t e in e n n e u p la t o n is c h e n E in b a n d . D io n y s iu s r e d e t w ie k e in a n d e r e r d ie S p r a c h e d e r M y s t e r ie n , h a t d ie a lle g o r is c h e E x e g e s e , w ie s ie v o n P h ilo b is P r o k lu s im S c h w ü n g e ist. M a n p f le g t g e w ö h n lic h in D io n y s iu s e in e n V o r k ä m p f e r d e s k ir c h lic h e n C h r is te n tu m s g e g e n d e n N e u p la t o n is m u s z u s e h e n , d e r d ie W a f fe n d e s G e g n e r s g e g e n ih n s e lb s t k e h r t. V ie l r ic h tig e r w ä r e es, d ie a u fk lä r e r is c h e T e n d e n z im P s e u d o a r e o p a g it e n in s A u g e z u f a s s e n , d e r m it H ilfe d e r P h ilo s o p h ie d a s k ir c h lic h e C h r is te n tu m v e r t ie f e n w ill. D io n y s iu s h a t d e n s e it d e m E in d r in g e n d e s H e lle n is m u s in d a s C h r is te n tu m g e m a c h t e n U n t e r s c h ie d v o n π ί α τ ι ς , d e m e in fa c h e n s c h l ic h t e n G la u b e n , u n d d e r γ ν ώ σ ι ς , d e r p h i lo s o p h is c h e n E in s ic h t in d e n G la u b e n , a u f d ie S p it z e g e t r ie b e n . D a h e r r e d e t e r a u c h v e r ä c h t li c h v o n d e r M e n g e , d ie fü r d ie A u fn a h m e d e s M y s t is c h e n u n fä h ig is t u n d n u r s o w e it a ls m ö g l i c h e in g e fü h r t w e r d e n s o ll.

D a r u m p o le m is ie r t e r a u c h g e g e n d ie , w e l c h e b lo s s a n d e n W o r t e n k le b e n u n d e n g h e r z ig a u f d e n B u c h s t a b e n a c h t e n , d ie d e n G e b r a u c h d e s W o r t e s έ ρ ω ς v e r p ö n e n u n d d a fü r α γ ά π η s e tz e n .

D u r c h P s e u d o d i o n y s iu s k a m je n e r m y s t is c h e W o r t s c h w a l l u n d U e b e r - s c h w a n g in s A b e n d la n d , d e r s e lb s t d ie n ü c h t e r n s t e n D e n k e r , a u c h A lb e r t u s e r g r iffe n h a t. D ie M y s tik d e s A r e o p a g it e n h a t n ic h t s g e m e in m it d e m h e r z ­ in n ig e n S ic h v e r s e n k e n in d ie T ie f e n d e r G o tth e it u n d in d ie e ig e n e S e e le ; s ie is t d a s g e r a d e G e g e n s t ü c k d e r d e u t s c h e n G e m ü t s t ie fe ' e in e s E c k h a r t u n d S u s o .

D ie p s e u d o d i o n y s is c h e n S c h r ift e n d r a n g e n n ic h t o h n e W id e r s t a n d d u r c h . A u f d e m R e lig i o n s g e s p r ä c h e v o n K o n s t a n t in o p e l 5 3 3 w u r d e n s ie v o n H y - p a tiu s v o n E p h e s u s a ls u n e c h t z u r ü c k g e w ie s e n . I m A b e n d la n d e b e g r ü n d e t e P a p s t M a rtin I d a s A n s e h e n d e r S c h r ift e n u n d v e r t e id ig t e s ie a u f d e m L a t e r a n k o n z il a ls W e r k e e in e s a p o s t o lis c h e n V a te r s . V o n n u n a n s c h w e ig t j e d e r W i d e r s p r u c h , b is L a u r e n t iu s V a lla 1 4 1 5 — 1 4 5 7 m it s e in e n Z w e i fe ln d a s g a n z e H e e r v o n d io n y s is c h e n S t r e it s c h r ift e n h e r v o r r ie f . Im M o r g e n ­ la n d e ü b e r s e t z t e S e r g iu s v o n R e s a in a , d e r b e r ü h m t e s y r is c h e A r is t o t e le s ­ ü b e r s e t z e r , d ie d io n y s is c h e n S c h r if t e n in d a s S y r is c h e , m ö g lic h e r w e is e le r n t e n a u c h d ie A r a b e r s ie k e n n e n ; w e n n d ie S c h r ift D e p r i m i s e t se c u n d is s u b s ta n tiis in A v ic e n n a s W e r k e n a r a b is c h e n U r s p r u n g s is t, is t D io n y s iu s I

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W ie d ie s v o n K o c h u n d S tig lm a y e r g e s c h e h e n ist.

a u c h b e i d e n A r a b e r n e i n g e d r u n g e n 1) . I m A b e n d la n d w a r d ie K e n n tn is d e r g r ie c h is c h e n S p r a c h e fa s t g e s c h w u n d e n u n d n u r n o c h e in V o r r e c h t d e r ir is c h e n M ö n c h e . S c h o n L u d w ig d e r F r o m m e lie s s d u r c h A b t H ild u in v o n S t. D e n y s e in e U e b e r s e t z u n g a n f e r t ig e n * 2). I h r e M a n g e lh a ftig k e it v e r a n la s s t e K a r l d e n K a h le n , d u r c h S k o t u s E r iu g e n a e in e n e u e a n fe r t ig e n z u la s s e n ; d ie s e w u r d e z u r V u lg a t a u n t e r d e n S c h o la s t ik e r n , w a r a b e r a u c h f e r n e r h in n ic h t d ie e in z ig e . D u r c h d ie B e r ü h r u n g m it d e n d io n y s is c h e n S c h r ift e n is t d ie g e s a m t e D o k t r in d e s S k o t u s E r iu g e n a e n ts ta n d e n ; s e in e P h ilo s o p h ie is t w e s e n t lic h n e u p la t o n is c h . D o c h s in d d ie a u s S k o t u s E r iu g e n a s t a m m e n d e n E in w ir k u n g e n a u f d ie F r ü h s c h o la s t ik g e r in g a n z u s c h la g e n ; d a s S y s t e m b lie b v e r e in s a m t u n d u n b e a c h t e t ; s e in H a u p t w e r k D e d i v is io n e n a tu r a e w u r d e e r s t a u f d e m P a r is e r P r o v in z ia lk o n z il 1 2 1 0 v e r u r t e ilt im V e r e in m it d e n n e u a u ft r e t e n d e n a r a b is c h e n A r is t o t e le s ü b e r s e t z u n g e n u n d - K o m m e n ­ ta r e n . E in e n b e g r ü n d e t e n E in flu s s d e s s k o t is c h e n W e r k e s d a r f m a n w o h l b e z ü g l i c h d e r K e t z e r e ie n A m a l r ic h s v o n B e n a u n d D a v id v o n D in a n t a n n e h m e n .

4 . A ls le t z t e n e u p la t o n is c h e Q u e lle fü r d ie S c h o la s t ik u n d z u g le ic h a ls d ie w ic h t ig s t e m u s s d ie a r a b i s c h e P e r i p a t e t i k b e z e i c h n e t w e r d e n . D e r A u fs c h w u n g d e r S c h o la s t ik im 1 3. J a h r h u n d e r t h a t s e in e U r s a c h e in d e m B e k a n n t w e r d e n d e r g e s a m t e n a r is t o t e lis c h e n S c h r ift e n m a s s e . D a s e rs te V e r d ie n s t g e b ü h r t d e n a u s d e m A r a b is c h e n g e f lo s s e n e n U e b e r s e t z u n g e n , d e r e n A n fe r t ig u n g u n t e r R a y m u n d E r z b i s c h o f v o n T o l e d o u m 1 1 3 0 b e g a n n , s o z w a r , d a s s d ie n e u e n A r is t o t e le s ü b e r s e t z u n g e n m it d e n K o m m e n t a r e n d e r a r a b is c h e n P h ilo s o p h e n im J a h r e 1 2 1 0 d u r c h d a s P a r is e r P r o v in z ia l­

k o n z il v e r u r t e ilt w u r d e n 3 * * * * *). D e r le b e n d ig e W e c h s e l v e r k e h r d e s c h r is t lic h e n A b e n d la n d e s m it d e n g e le h r t e n M a u r e n in S p a n ie n w a r d e r A u s g a n g s p u n k t ; in P a r is , d e m M itte lp u n k t d e r m it t e la lt e r lic h e n W is s e n s c h a ft e n , tr a t u m d a s J a h r 1 2 0 0 d e r d u r c h d ie A r a b e r g e lie fe r t e n e u e A r is t o t e le s k o d e x a u f, g le ic h z e it ig a b e r flö s s e n in fo lg e d e r E r o b e r u n g K o n s t a n t in o p e ls ( 1 2 0 4 ) d ie

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V e n e tiis 1 5 0 8 f. 6 4 libei· A v ic e n n a e d e p r im is et s e c u n d is su b sta n tiis et d e flu x u e n tis : D ic e n te D io n y s io , q u o d c o g n itio eoru m , q u a e su n t, ea , q u a e sun t, n o n est.

!) H ild u in g a b a u c h z u d er L e g e n d e A n la ss, dass d er V e r fa s se r d er m y s tis c h e n S c h r ifte n m it d em A p o s t e l G a llien s u n d d em A r e o p a g ite n id e n tis c h sei.

3) D ie G ru n d la g e fü r d ie G e s c h ic h te d e r g a n z e n B e w e g u n g b ild e t n o c h im m e r A . J o u r d a i n ,

Recherches critiques sur l'âge et l’origine des traductions latines d’Aristote,

P a r is 1 8 4 3 a. E r g ä n z u n g e n u n d N e u b e a r b e itu n g e n b e i L . L e ­ d e r e ,

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P a r is 1 8 7 6 ; F. W ü s t e n f e l d , Di e U e b e r s e tz u n g e n a r a b is c h e r W e r k e in das L a t e in is c h e se it d e m X I. J a h rh u n d ert (A b h a n d l. d. k. G e s e lls ch . d. W is s e n sc h . zu G ö ttin g e n X X II [1 8 7 7 ]). G a n z b e ­ s o n d e r s d ie e in g e h e n d e n A r b e ite n d e s u n e r m ü d lic h e n M oriz S t e i n s c h n e i d e r , D ie a r a b is c h e n U e b e rse tz u n g e n , im Z e n tr a lb la tt fü r B ib lio t h e k w e s e n B e ih e ft V u n d X II ; vgl. das r e ic h e L it e r a tu r v e r z e ic h n is b e i U e b e r w e g a. a, O. I I 9 2 3 6 ff.

Bedeutung des Neupiatonismus f. d. antike u. mittelalterl. Philosophie. 48Í

482 C onstantin Sauter.

g r ie c h is c h e n O r ig in a le d e s A r is t o t e le s in s A b e n d la n d u n d w u r d e n ü b e r ­ s e tz t. S o fin d e n s ic h b e i d e n e r s t e n V e r t r e t e r n d e r n e u e n E p o c h e in d e r S c h o la s t ik b e id e A r t e n v o n U e b e r s e t z u n g e n , in s b e s o n d e r e lä s s t s ic h b e i A lb e r t s P a r a p h r a s e n z u d e n a r is t o t e lis c h e n W e r k e n g e n a u e r k e n n e n , w e lc h e A r t v o n U e b e r s e t z u n g ih m v o r la g , z u w e ile n w a r e r in d e r L a g e , s o w o h l e in e a u s d e m A r a b is c h e n w ie a u s d e m G r ie c h is c h e n g e flo s s e n e z u b e n u t z e n .

D ie a r a b is c h e n U e b e r s e t z u n g e n fa n d e n la n g e d e n V o r z u g , w e il s ie in B e g le it u n g v o n K o m m e n t a r e n a u ftr a te n , d ie d e n o f t b is z u r U n v e r s t ä n d lic h ­ k e it v e r u n s t a lt e t e n T e x t e r lä u te r t e n . D ie g r ie c h is c h e n h in g e g e n w a r e n g e ­ n a u e r u n d fa n d e n s p ä t e r , in s b e s o n d e r e a ls T h o m a s d u r c h W il h e lm v o n M ö r b e k a e in e n e u e a n fe r t ig e n lie s s , d u r c h g ä n g ig d e n V o r z u g .

D ie a r a b is c h e P h ilo s o p h ie is t w o h l ih r e m W e s e n u n d U r s p r u n g n a c h A r is t o t e lis m u s , a b e r e b e n s o m ä c h t i g m a c h t s ic h in d e n H a u p t p r o b le m e n d e r M e t a p h y s ik u n d P s y c h o l o g i e d e r N e u p la t o n is m u s g e lt e n d . In all d ie s e n F ä lle n b ild e t d a n n d ie a r is t o t e lis c h e P h ilo s o p h ie n u r d a s f o r m a le G e r ü s t e , d a s g e d a n k lic h e E le m e n t is t d u r c h a u s n e u p la t o n is c h . U e b e r d ie s e T a t s a c h e w a r e n s ic h w e d e r d ie A r a b e r im k la r e n , n o c h a u c h d ie S c h o la s t ik e r b is z u T h o m a s . A u c h A lb e r t u s k ä m p ft n u r g e g e n d ie s e n n e u p la t o n is e h e n A r is t o t e lis m u s d a , w o e r o ffe n k u n d ig g e g e n d ie c h r is t lic h e n D o g m e n v e r - s t ö s s t 1). U m d ie h is t o r is c h e n U r s a c h e n , d ie d e r n e u p l a t o n is c h e n F ä r b u n g d e s A r is t o t e le s z n G r u n d e lie g e n , w a r m a n s ic h w e d e r im M o r g e n la n d e n o c h im A b e n d la n d e k la r. A v e r r o e s s u c h t in d e r L e h r e v o n M a te r ie u n d F o r m z u m g e n u in e n A r is t o t e le s v o r z u d r in g e n , b le ib t a b e r in d e r P s y c h o ­ l o g ie u n d K o s m o lo g i e d u r c h a u s in d e n n e u p l a t o n is c h e n F e s s e ln . A lb e r t u s p r ü ft m it f e in e m S p ü r s in n d ie r e i c h e ih m v o r li e g e n d e L it e r a tu r , v e r r ä t a b e r g l e ic h w o h l e in u n s ic h e r e s S c h w a n k e n z w is c h e n a u g u s tin is c h e n , p e r ip a t e ­ t i s c h e n u n d n e u p la t o n is c h e n A n lä u fe n ; in d e r P s y c h o l o g i e , in d e r M e ta ­ p h y s ik s ie g t le t z t e n E n d e s d e r N e u p la t o n is m u s . D ie in n ig e V e r k n ü p fu n g d e s a r is t o t e lis c h e n S y s t e m s m it n e u p la t o n is e h e n In tu itio n e n is t e in e h is t o r is c h le ic h t e r k lä r lic h e T a t s a c h e , d ie d e n A r a b e r n f r e m d w a r , w e il s ie n ic h t w ä h le n , k o n n t e n u n d z u d e m m itt e n in d ie le t z t e P h a s e d e s g r ie c h is c h e n P h ilo s o p h ie r e n s e in tr a t e n , d ie a u c h d e n S c h o la s t ik e r n f r e m d w a r , w e il es ih n e n a n d e r h is t o r is c h e n D e n k w e is e f e h lt e u n d a n d e r e r s e it s d a s ü b e r ­ r a g e n d e A n s e h e n d e s A r is t o t e le s n u r e n e r g is c h e G e is te r e in e n W i d e r s p r u c h w a g e n lie s s .

D a s E in d r in g e n g r ie c h is c h e r L it e r a tu r b e i d e n A r a b e r n b e g in n t u n t e r d e r k u lt u r fr e u n d lic h e n A b a s s i d e n h e r r s e h a f t z u E n d e d e s 8. J a h r h u n d e r t s . D ie V e r m it t le r w a r e n A n fa n g s n u r s y r is c h e C h r is te n , m e is t A e r z t e 2). A u f * *)

’ ) V. H e r t l i n g , A lb e r tu s M a g n u s ; B e iträ g e zu se in e r W ü r d ig u n g (F e s t­

sch r ift, K ö ln 1 8 8 0 ); A rth u r S c h n e i d e r , D ie P s y c h o lo g ie A lb e r ts d es G rossen , M ü n ster 1903 u n d 1904, 2 9 3 ff.

*) R e n a n ,

De philosophia peripatetica apud Syros,

P a ris 1 8 5 2 ; ü b e r s y r is c h e L ite r a tu r g e s c h ic h te W r i g h t ,

A short historv of Syriae literature,