Reassessing Plethon's Critique of Aristotle: Responses from Trapezuntios and Bessarion
Reassessing Plethon's Critique of Aristotle: Responses from Trapezuntios and Bessarion

Summary/Abstract: Georgios Gemistos Plethon’s critique of Aristotle, most fully articulated in De differentiis Platonis et Aristotelis, emerged from a context of intellectual and pedagogical struggle within late Byzantine philosophy. Advocating a revival of Platonism, Plethon framed Aristotle as a metaphysical and theological rival, emphasizing differences in accounts of form, ethics, and divine causation. This article argues that while Plethon identifies genuine tensions between Platonic and Aristotelian traditions, his presentation often simplifies Aristotle’s positions and relies on mediated interpretations inherited from later scholastic and Arabic sources. In metaphysics and ethics alike, Plethon tends to sharpen contrasts to serve his polemical aims, sometimes at the expense of interpretive precision. Comparison with contemporaries such as Scholarios and Bessarion shows that alternative, more conciliatory readings were available. Ultimately, Plethon’s contribution lies less in offering a balanced exegesis of Aristotle and more in reopening philosophical debate and redirecting attention toward Platonic thought in a predominantly Aristotelian intellectual climate.

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