The Agency of Manuscripts in Shaping Human Thought

Between Grand Ambitions and Tentative Conclusions: Averroes' Middle Commentary on Aristotle's De generatione et corruptione in its Hebrew guise 

Prof. Michael Engel's talk will focus on a group of manuscripts containing the Hebrew version of Averroes' Middle Commentary on De Generatione et Corruptione (MCDG). These manuscripts feature glosses added in the margins during the 14th century, likely around the time the treatise was translated into Hebrew. Later, in Northern Italy, at least two scribes incorporated these glosses into the main text, each employing different techniques in doing so. Following the presentation of his research and methodology, Engel will argue for the importance of closely examining the glosses that accompany the body of the text in Hebrew philosophical manuscripts. As the study demonstrates, the glosses are not only indispensable for our understanding of the reception history. At times-as in the case of the MCDG-they also reflect readings that are more faithful to the original Arabic than any of the "authorized" variants established by modern editors. 

The talk will take place in Hamburg and online.

Registration here (for online participation required)