Works

As we have just seen, in the K. al-Fihrist Porphyry is first and foremost a commentator on Aristotle. Obviously, Ibn al-NadIm did not create this image, but simply recorded it: Porphyry ‘‘expounded the books of Aristotle, as we have mentioned in the place where we have given an account of Aristotle’’ (p. 253.13-14 Fliigel, trans. Dodge, p. 610); after this sentence, Porphyry’s original works are listed. In what follows, the order is basically that of the entry in the K. al-Fihrist; also, the titles of the works are given in the form they have there.

Isagoge (Kitah Isagujl ft l-madkhal ila l-kutuh al-mantiqiyya): F, Q, B, C.

Introduction to the Categorical Syllogisms (Kitah al-madkhal ila al-qiyasat al-hamliyya): F, Q, B, C.

On Intellect and the Intelligihle (Kitah al-‘aql wa-l-ma‘qul): F.

Two Books to Aneho (Kitahtni ila Anthun): F, Q, B, C.

Refutation of Longinus (?) On the Intellect and the Intelligihle (Kitah al-radd ‘ala?) [see below on the spellings of this name] fl l-‘aql wa-l-ma‘qul: F, Q, B, C.

Book of the Elements (Kitah al-ustuqslt): F, Q, B, C.

Accounts of the Philosophers (Kitah Akhhlr al-fallsifa): F, Q, B, K, C.

Book on Sleep and Awakening (Kitah al-nawm wa-l-yaqta): F.

With the exception of On Intellect and the Intelligihle (whose relationship with the Refutation ofLonginus [?] on the same topic will be discussed below) and On Sleep and Awakening (mentioned only by Ibn al-NadIm in the section on oneirocritics, p. 316.24 Flugel), the list of Porphyry’s original works is the same in all the bibliographical surveys; the obvious implication is that Q and K are derivative (as usual, IAU skips the bibliographical information, and C, as we have seen before, explicitly relies on Q and B). The same is true for the commentaries: F mentions, in relationship with the various items of the entry on Aristotle, Porphyry’s commentaries on the Categories, De interpretatione, Physics and Ethics, and the same titles feature in Q and K (C omits the commentary on the Physics); for more details on these commentaries, see below.