摘要：Aristotle’s attitude with respect to opinions about the gods is disconcerting in several ways. In contrast with the preserved works, the fragments of the lost dialogues, in particular On Prayer and the book III of De Philosophia, seem to reflect an intention to conceive the relation of the humanity to the divinity, with Metaphysics ignores. The presence of a dialogue On Prayer is a proof of the idea that the gods should be honoured, a provision on which one insists only if one thinks that the surpassing nobility of the gods must be respected. This assertion collides head on with the theological interpretation often given to Metaphysics Lambda. The latter, it has been said, uses more scientific arguments and abandons the “popular” theological thinking. This was formerly reason to suspect that Aristotle did not compose a dialogue On Prayer. We think better to refer to the facts and not seek to displace Aristotle’s piety. In this paper we will attempt to show that there is not reason to suspect of the authenticity of the lost dialogue On Prayer, to give an interpretation of the fragment and to show the relationship between the Metaphysics Lambda and the exoteric work.
