Abstract
The division of Ancient Platonism into Middle Platonism and Neoplatonism is a fairly new one. The conceptual foundation of this division was cemented in Jacob Brucker's pioneering Historia critica philosophiae (1742-67). In the 1770s and 1780s, the term 'Neoplatonism' was coined on the basis of Brucker's analysis. Three historiographical concepts were decisive to Brucker: 'system of philosophy', 'eclecticism' and 'syncretism'. By means of these concepts, he characterized Middle Platonism and Neoplatonism as opposing philosophical movements, the former being a genuine form of Platonism, the latter a false form. However, the division is untenable and we ought to abandon it.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | Apeiron - a Journal for Ancient Philosophy and Science |
| Volume | 46 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| Pages (from-to) | 166-200 |
| Number of pages | 35 |
| ISSN | 0003-6390 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2020 |