Platonism in Antiquity

History

"Platonism" stands for the philosophical system that Plato's followers ("Platonists") had developed from Plato's dialogues since the first century B.C., and which soon became the dominant school of thought for several centuries. It was not until the close of antiquity that Platonism was relegated to the background by the powerful ascent of Christianity, although it was never entirely supplanted by it. Yet even Christianity became a shining light only by coming to grips with the teachings of the Platonists and by adopting and assimilating their ideas wherever that was possible.

The research project "Platonism in Antiquity", which is sponsored by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, endeavours a systematic and comprehensive presentation of Platonism in an eight-volume encyclopedia. The project was inaugurated by Heinrich Dörrie and, from 1983 to 2003,it was under the direction of Matthias Baltes; after his death in January 2003 it has been continued by Christian Pietsch in cooperation with Marie-Luise Lakmann.

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