Doxography

Doxography or - graphy (from Greek δόξα doxa " opinion, view " and -graphy ) generally refers to the presentation of the teachings of philosophers in the history of philosophy history of philosophy works or parts of other works. The term is usually used in the context of ancient history of philosophy.

Conceptual history

The term was introduced by the classical philologist Hermann Diels in his work " Doxographi Graeci " (where " doxographi " a Latin neologism for the author of " doxographies " is ). Originally purchased from Diels only on short, thesis -like representations hergebrachter natural-philosophical views, the term is now both in terms of content, as well as a formal point of much wider application. So is doxographies now on general philosophical, ethical, and even religious field the question. Although it is therefore not an independent scientific discipline with her, has the doxography as procedure nevertheless of great importance for philosophy history, history of science and engagement with the knowledge of previous generations.

Philosophy in Classical Greece

The majority of the records of classical and philosophical pre-classical period has been lost. Consequently, our knowledge of works of ancient philosophy often derives solely from the doxographic treatises of later authors. Particularly well known are the " doxographies " of Aristotle and Plato.

Plato and Aristotle

Aristotle was the first philosopher who explicitly represented the emergence of knowledge as a historical process and his own statements prefaced regularly a dialectical dialogue with his predecessors on each treated area of ​​knowledge. Purpose of Aristotle's discussion was so ultimately the decision for a particular explanation. Plato, in turn, took advantage of preconceptions of other philosophers rather scattered as a stimulating element in his dialogues - a distinction which is founded in the fact that Plato wrote for the general public, while Aristotle alone the esoteric writings, that is for internal use by the peripatetic school specific notes, scripts or material collections, have survived. Due to their not pure illustrative objectives neither Plato nor Aristotle considered " doxographers in the narrow sense " ..

Later doxographers

The actual doxographic tradition begins only after Aristotle and his pupils, such as Theophrastus (whose historical record of the doctrines of the pre-Socratic natural philosophy, physikon doxai is gone, however, be lost). Especially significant are the surviving writings doxographic or fragments of Diogenes Laertius about, Cicero, Plutarch, Arius Didymus and John Stobaeus or even by Christian writers such as Hippolytus and Theodoret.

Only on this detour is now ever attempt possible to infer the philosophical works and general views of pre-Socratic philosophers such as Thales, Anaximander, Anaximenes, Empedocles and Zeno of Elea. The problem here is in particular that such representations were mostly developed in discussion with the previous philosophers and thus be called into the service of a justification of their own views. Thus, inter alia, Hans -Georg Gadamer, as one of the main interpreters of classical Greek philosophy in the 20th century, expressly noted that an understanding of the pre-Socratic teaching is only possible in conjunction with the views of the respective " doxographers ".

Islamic doxography

Islamic doxography means that part of theological works of Islam which deals with different religious views in different Islamic sects and trends.