Chalcidius's Commentary on Plato's Timaeus

purpose of this Platonic dialogue and its relationship to the books of the Republic Plato's Republic is briefly explained. Chapter 7 finally gives a confusing and incorrect division, which fits neither the Timaeus nor Chalcidius's own arguments. Chapters 8–355 then follow with the actual commentary, which, like the translation, extends to 53 C.

Second Chapter.

The Eclecticism of Chalcidius.

Before I approach the task of determining more precisely the presumed sources from which Chalcidius drew, a general overview shall sketch the eclectic character of Chalcidius as briefly as possible. Such an overview provides us first with the secure conviction that we may not expect anything original from Chalcidius; but then it also orients us regarding the time in which the commentary may have been composed. Before we proceed to the individual examination, it should be mentioned that in the enumeration of the individual authors, their significance for the Chalcidian commentary should be considered rather than chronology.

In a commentary on a Platonic dialogue, it is not surprising that Platonism determines its fundamental coloration. Plato is considered by Chalcidius to be the greatest philosopher, who also has the gift of expressing his views clearly and understandably.

1. The purpose of the introduction is obviously to show what Chalcidius considers to be the main points in the Timaeus and what he intends to treat as such in his commentary. In fact, his commentary has only progressed to number XIII. But in this part that has been preserved to us, there are already remarks about time (XIV), about the elements (XV), about the soul and the parts of the soul (XX), about God (XXVII), so that he could hardly have brought much new material on these points. On the other hand, as even a superficial comparison shows, the selection of points is so arbitrary, and important and unimportant things are so often coordinated with each other, that one does not gain much respect for the clarity of the author even from this division.