Letter to "vreality" of the ontologicalethics list re: Doctor S. Rappe - August 11, 2002


First the letter from "vreality"

Hello Gary,
I just rejoined after 'taking leave' of the web for a few mths. Was reading the previous msgs and came across yours concerning S. Rappe. I thought her book 'Reading Neoplatonism' was very good as well. I recently met her at an international conference on ancient philosophy held here in Australia. She seems nice and I am sure she would not mind hearing from you if you wish to email her personally. She is based in the University of Michigan.

Gary replies:
You may also know Edward Moore who first recommended your book READING NEOPLATONISM. I read it all the way through (most books lose my short attention span fast) and absolutely loved it! It made me take Neoplatonism seriously. I have made extensive use of your bibliography to get more good books on Neoplatonism. But I am most extremely interested in Damascius. I think Heidegger may have gained a great many ideas from him. Though he has read everything, he rarely acknowledges the extensiveness and depth of his influences, for instance Kierkegaard which is everywhere in him. Also Nietzsche which one would know little of until he came out with his lecture series in 1961 that hit the French philosophers, especially Levinas, like a bombshell. I know he thoroughly knows his Aristotle commentators -- he mentions Simplicius at a very crucial point in his essay on Anaximander -- and, without a doubt, believe he has read all of Damascius.

I have numerous other questions to ask you (especially since I am a moron in Greek)(especially about Michael Psellus -- I have read most of your colleague (?) Anthony Kaldellis' THE ARGUMENT OF PSELLOS' CHRONOGRAPHIA whose analysis of Psellus as 1) a crypto-pagan Neoplatonist philosopher, and 2) precursor to Machiavelli is great!), but would like to have your permission to correspond with you first. I am in the process of translating Henry Corbin's book LE PARADOXE DU MONOTHÉISME which constantly mentions Proclus' commentary on Plato's PARMENIDES . Thank you for your consideration.

il s’ennuie

Gary C. Moore