The Matenadaran keeps philosophical treatises of more than thirty medieval Armenian philosophers.
Philosophical thought has reached a high degree of development in ancient and medieval Armenia.The manuscripts of the Matenadaran include the works of more than 30 Armenian philosophers, such as Eznik Koghbatsi, Movses Kertogh (5th century), David Anhaght (5th-6thth century), Stepanos Sunetsi (8th century), Hovhannes Sarkavag (1045/50-1129), Hovhannes Yerzenkatsi, Vahram Rabuni (13th century), Hovhan Vorotnetsi (1315-1386), Grigor Tatevatsi (1346-1409), Arakel Sunetsi (1425), Stepanos Lehatsi (1699), etc. The Refutation of the Sects of the 5th century famous Armenian philosopher Eznik Koghbatsi is the first original philosophical work written in Armenian after the creation of the Alphabet. Having the extention of Christianity as a purpose, he thoroughly criticises both the Armenian and the Greek paganism, the Persian zoroastrianism, the sects, etc.
The Definition of Philosophy written by David Anhaght (5th-6th centuries) is the most important monument of the mundane philosophical thought in Armenia. It is one of the rare works that continues the antique philosophical traditions, widely using the theories of Platon, Aristotle, Pythagoras. At the same time many progressive theories on philosophy and logics are worked out.
centuries), David Harkatsi (7
The Definition of Philosophy written by David Anhaght (5th-6th centuries) is the most important monument of the mundane philosophical thought in Armenia. It is one of the rare works that continues the antique philosophical traditions, widely using the theories of Platon, Aristotle, Pythagoras. At the same time many progressive theories on philosophy and logics are worked out.
centuries), David Harkatsi (7
Many important theories were brought forward by the medieval Armenian philosophers. They regarded the primacy of sensually perceptible things and the role of the senses, the contradictions of natural phenomena, space and time, the origin and destruction of matter, etc. There are numerous interests about natural phenomena and their cognition in the works of Armenian philosophers. The 12th century scholar Hovhannes Sarkavag notes the role of experiment in the cognition of the world and advises to check the knowledge by the experiments.
Hovhannes Yerzenkatsi (13th century) wrote, that 'everything under the sun is movable and changeable. Elements originate regularly and are destroyed regularly. Changes depend 'on time and matter'. Yerzenkatsi regards the destruction not as a destruction of materia but as its alternation.
One of the prominent late medieval philosophers is the founder of the Tatev University Hovhan Vorotnetsi. In 'The Interpretation of the Categories of Aristotle's he interpretated Aristotleнs categories, expressing progressive for the Middle Ages viewpoint of Nominalism.
Beginning from the 5th century, Armenian philosophers parallel with original work, began to translate the works of foreign philosophers. There are many manuscripts at the Matenadaran, containing the works of Aristotle (389-322 BC), Zeno, Theon of Alexandria (1st century AD), Secudius (2nd century AD), Porphyrius (232 - 303), Proclus Diadochus (412-485), Olympiodorus the Junior (6th century), etc. Besides of the works of the ancient philosophers, the works of the medieval authors Joannes Damascenus (8th century), Gilbert de La Porree (transl. of the 14th century), Peter of Aragon (14thth century) are preserved at the Matenadaran, too.
century), Clemente Galano (17
century), Clemente Galano (17
Of exceptional value for the world science are those translations, originals of which have been lost and they are known only through their Armenian translations. Among them are Zenoнs On Nature, Timothy Qelurus' Objections, Hermes Trismegistus' Interpretations, four chapters of Progymnasmata by Theon of Alexandria, etc.
Read more on HISTORY OF PHILOSOPHY - Article by Seyran ZAKARIAN
Read more on HISTORY OF PHILOSOPHY - Article by Seyran ZAKARIAN
