Quod est primum in compositione, est ultimum in resolutione. Notes on analysis and synthesis in Late Antiquity

This article investigates the Greek and Latin origins of the Scholastic dictum that that which is first in composition (equivalent to Greek sunthesis) is last in resolution (Greek analusis). I study the tradition that synthesis proceeds from prior to posterior, while analysis moves from posterior to...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autor: Chase, M. (Michael)|||/items/3e941f56-2750-400f-b2be-34f484cb549e
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2015
País:España
Institución:Universidad de Navarra
Repositorio:Dadun. Depósito Académico Digital de la Universidad de Navarra
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:dadun.unav.edu:10171/38595
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10171/38595
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Analysis
Análisis
Synthesis
Síntesis
Geometry
Geometría
Negative theology
Teología negativa
Materias Investigacion::Arte y Humanidades::Filosofía
Descripción
Sumario:This article investigates the Greek and Latin origins of the Scholastic dictum that that which is first in composition (equivalent to Greek sunthesis) is last in resolution (Greek analusis). I study the tradition that synthesis proceeds from prior to posterior, while analysis moves from posterior to prior. First I seek the origins of these notions in Greek mathematics. I then move on to Middle Platonist authors who identify analysis with Platonic diairesis, and I next move on to a brief survey of the notions of analysis and synthesis in some Neoplatonists. I show that both the mathematical and the philosophical versions of the analytic/ synthetic method became associated with several new contexts.