The ''Problemata physica'' or just ''Problems'' ( el, Προβλήματα; la, Problemata) is an Aristotelian or possibly

pseudo-Aristotelian Pseudo-Aristotle is a general cognomen for authors of philosophical or medical treatises who attributed their work to the Greek philosopher Aristotle, or whose work was later attributed to him by others. Such falsely attributed works are known as ...

collection of problems written in a question and answer format. The collection, gradually assembled by the

peripatetic school The Peripatetic school was a school of philosophy in Ancient Greece. Its teachings derived from its founder, Aristotle (384–322 BC), and ''peripatetic'' is an adjective ascribed to his followers. The school dates from around 335 BC when Aristo ...

, reached its final form anywhere between the third century BC and the 6th century AD. The work is divided by topic into 38 sections, and the whole contains almost 900 problems. Later writers to compose question-and-answer works in imitation of ''Problemata'' include

Plutarch Plutarch (; grc-gre, Πλούταρχος, ''Ploútarchos''; ; – after AD 119) was a Greek Middle Platonist philosopher, historian, biographer, essayist, and priest at the Temple of Apollo in Delphi. He is known primarily for his ''P ...

Alexander of Aphrodisias Alexander of Aphrodisias ( grc-gre, Ἀλέξανδρος ὁ Ἀφροδισιεύς, translit=Alexandros ho Aphrodisieus; AD) was a Peripatetic school, Peripatetic philosopher and the most celebrated of the Ancient Greek Commentaries on Aristo ...

, and

Cassius Iatrosophista Cassius Felix (), also Cassius Felix of Cirta, was a Roman African medical writer probably native of Constantina. He is known for having written in AD 447 a Latin treatise titled ''De Medicina''. The little we can say of the author comes from his b ...

Ann M. Blair Ann M. Blair (born 1961) is an American historian, and the Carl H. Pforzheimer University Professor at Harvard University. She specializes in the cultural and intellectual history of early modern Europe (16th-17th centuries), with an emphasis on ...

, "The ''Problemata'' as a Natural Philosophical Genre," in

Anthony Grafton Anthony Thomas Grafton (born May 21, 1950) is an American historian of early modern Europe and the Henry Putnam University Professor of History at Princeton University, where he is also the Director the Program in European Cultural Studies. He i ...

and

Nancy Siraisi Nancy Gillian Siraisi (born 1932) is an American historian of medicine, and distinguished professor emerita in history at Hunter College, and City University of New York. Life Siraisi received a B.A. (1953) and an M.A. (1958) from the University o ...

, eds., ''Natural Particulars: Nature and the Disciplines in Renaissance Europe'', p
173
/ref> The

medieval In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the late 5th to the late 15th centuries, similar to the Post-classical, post-classical period of World history (field), global history. It began with t ...

and

Renaissance The Renaissance ( , ) , from , with the same meanings. is a period in European history marking the transition from the Middle Ages to modernity and covering the 15th and 16th centuries, characterized by an effort to revive and surpass ideas ...

commentators of Aristotle's ''Problemata'' include

Pietro d'Abano Pietro d'Abano, also known as Petrus de Apono, Petrus Aponensis or Peter of Abano (Premuda, Loris. "Abano, Pietro D'." in ''Dictionary of Scientific Biography.'' (1970). New York: Charles Scribner's Sons. Vol. 1: p.4-5.1316), was an Italian philos ...

(whose ''Expositio'' of 1310 was reprinted in a number of early editions), Giulio Guastavini and Ludovico Settala.

Notes

External links

* E. S. Forster, translator (1927
''Problemata'', volume VII ''Works of Aristotle''
via

Internet Archive The Internet Archive is an American digital library with the stated mission of "universal access to all knowledge". It provides free public access to collections of digitized materials, including websites, software applications/games, music, ...

Works by Aristotle {{Philo-book-stub

See also

Notes

External links