Interpréter Aristote par Aristote

Abstract

Several conceptual schemes generally used by historians of hermeneutics can be challenged if one takes into consideration the history of philosophical traditions, which should not be neglected by those interested in reconstructing the development of hermeneutical notions and methods. Focusing on the Aristotelian tradition, this article aims at showing : 1) that between the Middle Ages and the Renaissance the meaning of the Latin term interpretatio shifted significantly ; 2) that the humanists’ approach to the Aristotelian corpus is based on the principle that every author is the best interpreter of himself ; 3) that this principle was formulated and discussed in some neglected treatises dealing with the optima ratio interpretandi Aristotelem, published by Nuñez in 1554, by Pascual in 1591, and by Piccart in 1605.

Keywords

• aristotelians
• history of hermeneutics
• Aristotle
• interpretation
• Renaissance
• Descartes