Sanzhenakov A. A.
DOI: 10.32691/2410-0935-2019-14-88-96
Information about author:
Alexander A. Sanzhenakov, researcher, Institute of Philosophy and Law SB RAS. PhD. Novosibirsk. Russia
E-mail: sanzhenakov [at] gmail.com (sanzhenakov[at]gmail[dot]com)
Abstract . The article is devoted to the methodology of the history of philosophy and the problem of using biographical and autobiographical materials in the history of philosophy. As an example of a biography and an autobiography are taken “The Life of Aristotle” (Vita Aristotelis Marciana) by an unknown author and “Consolation of Philosophy” by Boethius. After analyzing these works, the author concludes that both of these genres can be useful for the history of philosophy, but the second of the presented ways of representing the personality of the philosopher is incomparably more informative and most likely meets the aims that the historian of philosophy poses. The disadvantage of the biographical genre is that its content represents only the external outline of the life of the philosopher, while autobiography allows you to penetrate deep into the personality and thoughts of the studied philosopher. However, autobiography also has certain limitations in the application in the history of philosophy. First, autobiography lacks objectification, since this genre does not imply it. It is also important for the historian of philosophy to consider ideas in their temporal development, taking into account how the ideas of studied philosopher influenced the subsequent tradition, which is also impossible to trace through an autobiography.
Keywords : history of philosophy, methodology, biography, autobiography, Aristotle, Vita Aristotelis Marciana, Boethius, Consolation of Philosophy.
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