Modern Platonic Scholarship

Abstract

The enthusiasm of the New Humanism for Antiquity caused a revival in Germany of Greek and Roman learning, which was given the old and expressive name of “philology” — later with the adjective “classical” — and was also long known as “The Science of Antiquity” (Altertumswissenschaft). Its object, task and method were elucidated particularly by Friedrich August Wolf (1759–1824) during his period at the university of Halle, who was the first to separate it clearly from pedagogy, theology and philosophy. He also banished from philology that aesthetic enthusiasm which led the poets to praise Antiquity. For him hot beauty but learning was the guide to knowledge. He refers, however, to Goethe when he wishes to defend “the palladium” of knowledge of classic Antiquity “against sacrilegious hands”. His first scientific work which drew attention to him was an edition of Plato’s Symposium (1782) with an introduction and interpretations. Later he published also the Phaedo (1812) with a commentary, the Euthyphro, Apology and Crito with a newly amended text and with a Latin translation (1812 and 1820). A critical edition of all Plato’s works with a concise commentary and with Ficino’s Latin translation was provided by Wolf’s disciple August Immanuel Bekker (it was published in the years 1816–1823). This edition was all the more important because the last previous complete edition of Plato was published in 1602.