The Influence of Aristotelian Thought on the Treatise of Theodore II Laskaris, Six Books on Natural Community

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Published: Mar 25, 2020
DOI: https://doi.org/10.12681/ethiki.22765
Keywords:
Theodore II Laskaris; Aristotle; Byzantine Philosophy; Natural Community; Logic; Mesotes (Mean); Matter and Form; Hellenic Renaissance
Theofanis Melidis
Abstract

This article explores the significant impact of Aristotelian philosophy on the 13th-century Byzantine Emperor of Nicaea, Theodore II Laskaris, specifically within his seminal work Six Books on Natural Community. The author argues that Theodore II was a pivotal figure in a Byzantine intellectual movement that mirrored the Western Renaissance’s rediscovery of Aristotle, utilizing the Stagirite’s logic and scientific methodology to shift toward a more "secular" and rational understanding of the world. By analyzing specific naming references and Aristotelian terminology—such as the concept of the "rational animal" and the distinction between "matter" and "form"—the study demonstrates Theodore’s deep familiarity with the Analytica Priora and Metaphysics. Furthermore, the paper highlights how Theodore II adopted Aristotelian ethical principles, particularly the doctrine of the "mean" (mesotes) and the definition of virtue as a balance between extremes. Ultimately, the article reveals Theodore II Laskaris as a scholar-emperor whose practical and realistic approach to classical philosophy predated Renaissance humanism.

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References
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