Apostle, Hippocrates (1990)

APOSTLE, DOBBS, PARSLOW, GERSON, GROW, EDENBERG, ZUVEKAS

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 10/6/2010 at 10:31:52

The Grinnell (IA) Herald-Register

HIPPOCRATES APOSTLE, ARISTOTLE TRANSLATOR, DIES OF CANCER AT 80

Hippocrates G. Apostle, 80, professor emeritus of mathematics and philosophy at Grinnell College, died of cancer at his home Wednesday, July 18.

An internationally recognized scholar of Aristotle, Apostle recently published a translation of Aristotle's "Poetics," the ninth book in a series of systematic translations of Aristotle's works. The work was completed with Elizabeth Dobbs, associate professor of English, and Morris Parslow, professor of French, both of Grinnell College.

Apostle previously translated "Aristotle's Metaphysics," Physics," "Categories and Propositions," "Posterior Analytics," "On the Soul," "Nichomachean Ethics" and, with Lloyd Gerson, "Selected Works" and "Politics." The translations published by Peripatetic Press, have been praised for their clarity and their literal and accurate reflection of Aristotle's ideals.

Although Apostle achieved renown for his work on Aristotle, he did not begin to translate the philosopher's writings until he was 53 years old. Apostle earned B.A. and M.A. degrees in mathematics at Columbia University, the studied philosophy at the University of Chicago. It was there that he became entranced by Aristotle and, at the urging of his classmates, vowed to someday translate the philosopher's major works.

Apostle went on to receive a Lic. en Phil. in philosophy from Laval University in Canada and earned M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in philosophy at Harvard. He then taught mathematics and philosophy at West Virginia Wesleyan College, Rochester University, Amherst College and the University of Chicago. He joined the Grinnell College faculty in 1948, and in 1955 was named professor of mathematics and philosophy. In 1961 he was named Myra Steele professor of mathematics at Grinnell. He gave up his mathematics courses in 1968 and continued to teach philosophy until 1978 when he was awarded emeritus status.

His first translation, of Aristotle's "Metaphysics," was published in 1967. His most recent translation, of "Physics," was publishedd in April of this year.

Born in Tymavos, Greece, Apostle moved with his family to New York when he was 12 years old. As a guest of the Greek government, Apostle returned to his home country to deliver a paper at the international congress in Thesaloniki honoring the 2,300th anniversary of Aristotle's death. He received a medal from the Greek government and was commended by Greek President Constantine Tsatsos.

A member of the American Philosophical Association, the American Mathematical Society and the Mathematical Association of America, Apostle was listed in "Who's Who in America," "Who's Who in American Education" and "American Men of Science."

He is survived by his wife, Margaret; three stepchildren, Stephen Grow of Kansas City, Susan Edenberg of Indianapolis and Thomas Grow of Marinette, Wis., and a sister Alice Zuvekas of Joplin, Mo.

A memorial service will be held on the Grinnell campus at a later date.