On Aristotle's On interpretation 9

by Ammonius Hermiae

This volume is essential reading for anyone interested in the history of determinism. It contains the two most important commentaries on the determinists' sea battle argument as well as on other deterministic arguments. The book includes the earliest full exposition of the Reaper argument for determinism, a discussion of whether changeless knowledge of the passage of time is possible, and the two fullest expositions of the idea that determinism is implied not by truth, but only by definite truth. Ammonius and Boethius both wrote commentaries on Aristotle's On Interpretation and on its ninth chapter, where Aristotle discusses the sea battle. Their comments are crucial, for Ammonius' commentary influenced the Islamic Middle Ages, while that of Boethius was of equal importance to medieval Latin-speaking philosophers.