ISBN-13: 9789004207325 / Francuski / Twarda / 2012 / 532 str.
The radical aporetism of the treatise on first principles written by the Neoplatonic philosopher Damascius may be understood as a unique approach to understand, in different ways and on an extremely high and abstract level, not only these principles but also ourselves as thinkers. In the quest to grasp ultimate reality, this treatise is also a deep reflection on the processes and limitations of human thought in relation to supreme principles. Damascius uncovers the many concealed snares of language, the limitations of our cognitive apparatus, and the common misconceptions about first principles, thereby revealing the underlying reasons for our aporias as well as their protreptic meaning and redeeming function. This study offers a new and positive reading of Damascius' equally extreme and fascinating aporetic philosophy. L'aporetique radicale du traite des Principes Premiers du neoplatonicien Damaskios doit etre comprise comme etant l'unique voie d'acces vers une comprehension differente, superieure et purifiee des principes premiers et de nous-memes. Autant qu'une quete des realites primordiales, ce traite est une reflexion sur les processus et les limites de la pensee humaine dans ses rapports avec les principes premiers. Ce present livre montre les raisons du surgissement de telles apories, leur sens et leur role paradoxalement salvateur en denoncant les plus hautes imperfections de nos discours, les pieges insoupconnes de nos mecanismes cognitifs et l'inadequation funeste de nos conceptions concernant les premiers principes. Le resultat est un regard neuf et une comprehension dedramatisee de cette aporetique extreme et fascinante.