Sur le passage mathématique de l'Épinomis (990 c -- 992 a) : signification et postérité

Abstract

International audienceWe analyse the famous (and obscure) passage on mathematical sciences in the pseudo-platonic Epinomis. We prove that this text is a kind of "florilege" of mathematical allusions borowed from authentic dialogues, in particular from Theaetetus and Timaeus by a not very skillful author. The passage has not a profound hidden mathematical signification pace some previous studies. We also try to explain the great fortune of this text in medio- and neo-Platonic authors (Theo (of Smyrna), Nicomachus, Iamblichus, Proclus) because it furnishes an argument in the debate about unity of mathematics