Problemata Aristotelis

Nicol. Gupalatini. Veneti. Phisici.
Preface to the Problems of Aristotle.
To Pope Sixtus IV, Supreme Pontiff.

THE PROBLEMS OF ARISTOTLE
are now as emended as they can be. The Latin language had not known them before this; yet Theodorus Theodorus Gaza, a prominent humanist and translator, who deserved very well of the Roman language—whose translation Pope Nicholas V had long ago requested—recently emended them under the supreme pontiff Sixtus IV. I am a witness to how much labor the most learned old man spent, writing down what was dictated over the course of a full year in correcting many errors made by the scribes. Certainly, all the Greek manuscripts were corrupted. Yet, he—as is fitting for an excellent interpreter—acted with the most exacting judgment, both because of his skill in the Greek language, which was his native tongue, and his supreme knowledge of the elegance of Latin, and because he was always a most devoted student of the Peripatetic school The school of philosophy founded by Aristotle. He did with the Problems what is usually done in other matters: from many corrupt and perverted texts, a certain integral and excellent one was created. Hence it is that one must often forgive certain narrating expositors if they hand down many things that do not at all fit the Aristotelian sentiment, either due to ignorance of Greek letters or errors in the codices. They say many things that are excellent, but not necessary to the subject, or perhaps not fitted to the duty of a good expositor, which Galen A prominent Greek physician and philosopher instituted: that one should not say what one believes to be true, but rather explain and clarify what is in the mind of the author, even if it is false. I would say this more willingly because I easily persuade myself that many errors and failures in the arts, sciences, and other matters have occurred because of the authority and reputation of predecessors based on common fame. One should not immediately believe everyone; rather, all things must be weighed and discerned with the highest judgment, and the cause of each thing must be investigated and known as far as possible. Philosophy would not have been handed down so eruditely and wisely by Aristotle after Pythagoras Ancient Greek philosopher and many others, had one—as Cicero says of Pythagoras—simply heard "he said it" and progressed no further in the investigation of philosophy.