History of Philosophy in Reverse

Aristotle's many philosophical andscientific works have been studied and commented on for over 2,000 years, but never as intensively as in the years between 1100 and 1600. At this time, they were the backbone of the scholastic culture that created the European university system.

This book describes and compares the interpretive methods and publication strategies of the scholastics and contemporary Aristotelians. It argues that parts of the old methodology could be resumed, and it shows how valuable interpretative suggestions can be found that are not seen in newer literature. The book's title contains a program. When researchers today deal with the scholastics' interpretation of Aristotle, they typically start from their own opinion of what Aristotle actually meant. They then use that to illuminate the scholastics' understanding. Instead of this movement from Aristotle forward in chronology, the book argues for a reverse: start by understanding the scholastic interpreters, then go back to Aristotle and try to read him through their lenses.