Abstract

This work throws a new light on Xenocrates, the third leader of the Academy, who is considered in the existing research as merely a derivative doctrinaire. Dillon and Krämer have shown that Xenocrates is a link between Plato and Aristotle. Xenocrates' first principle, the Monas, is trancendent and a Nus with the Ideas as moments in it. It is illustrated here that Xenocrates knew two priciples, the Monas and the indefinite duality. The latter, however, is a result of the former. This means Xenocrates taught a monism which was not independent from that of Plato and other members of the Academy. The source for this demonstration is Sextus Empiricus.