1001Philosophers

Ammonius Hermiae c. 440 AD – c. 520 AD

Ammonius Hermiae (c. 440 AD – c. 520 AD) was a Greek philosopher of the Medieval era, associated with Platonism.

Ammonius Hermiae was a Greek Alexandrian Neoplatonist philosopher and the principal teacher of Aristotelian and Platonic philosophy in the eastern Mediterranean in the late fifth and early sixth centuries. The son of Hermias of Alexandria and the pupil of Proclus at Athens, he returned to lead the Alexandrian school and trained almost the whole of the next generation of late ancient philosophers, including Simplicius, John Philoponus, Asclepius, and Olympiodorus. After the closure of the Athenian Academy in 529 his school remained the principal philosophical center of the Greek world. His lectures on Aristotle were preserved by his students and shaped the late Greek and Christian-Aristotelian tradition.

Key facts

Nationality
Greek
Era
Medieval
Movements
Platonism

Selected quotes

  • Attributed to Ammonius Hermiae:

    “The doctrines of Plato and Aristotle agree at the deepest level.”

  • Attributed to Ammonius Hermiae:

    “Aristotle's writings are the gateway to Plato's wisdom.”

  • Attributed to Ammonius Hermiae:

    “Philosophy is the practice of dying, the separation of the soul from earthly attachments.”

  • Attributed to Ammonius Hermiae:

    “What we love most truly is the eternal, hidden behind the changing forms of nature.”

  • Attributed to Ammonius Hermiae:

    “The teacher's task is to lead the student to the principle by which all is understood.”

Frequently asked about Ammonius Hermiae

When did Ammonius Hermiae live?
Ammonius Hermiae was born in c. 440 AD and died in c. 520 AD.
Where was Ammonius Hermiae from?
Ammonius Hermiae was a Greek philosopher of the Medieval era.
What philosophical movements is Ammonius Hermiae associated with?
Ammonius Hermiae was associated with Platonism.
What was Ammonius Hermiae known for?
Ammonius Hermiae was a Greek Alexandrian Neoplatonist philosopher and the principal teacher of Aristotelian and Platonic philosophy in the eastern Mediterranean in the late fifth and early sixth centuries.
How many quotes are attributed to Ammonius Hermiae?
There are 5 attributed quotations from Ammonius Hermiae in the 1001Philosophers collection, organized by topic.