Author:

Keywords:

Manichaeism, Platonism, ancient concepts of matter

Abstract:

Alexander of Lycopolis is the author of an anti-Manichaean text from last quarter of the third century AD or maybe slightly later. Despite the fact that the author is clearly a Platonist, the text has been largely ignored by historians of Platonism, with the notable exception of Jaap Mansfeld who in 1974 published the only philosophical analysis of this text (in a collaboration with P.W. van der Horst). The text certainly deserves greater attention, as it is a rare testimony from an important transitional phase in the history of ancient Platonism. Since 1974, Platonic studies have boomed and hence it is worth our while to take a new look at this text. I will look at Alexander’s arguments against the Manichaean conception of matter. The analysis of these arguments and a comparison with contemporaneous sources will allow us to shed more light on Alexander’s own philosophical position and the traditions to which he belongs.