Istvan Bodnar

Dr. Istvan Bodnar is an Associate Professor (part-time) in the Philosophy Department at Central European University. His research focuses on ancient metaphysics, epistemology, and the history of science, with particular expertise in pre-Socratic philosophy, Aristotelian studies, and the philosophy of mathematics.

He earned his M.A. in philosophy, English philology, and Latin philology from Eötvös University (Budapest) in 1982–1983, and his doctoral degree in 1992 with a thesis on Parmenides under Prof. Imre Ruzsa. He holds a C.Sc. in Philosophy from the Academic Qualification Board of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences.

His work bridges ancient philosophical texts with scientific methodologies, exploring themes like celestial teleology, elemental theory, and the interplay between mathematics and cosmology in early Greek thought. Recent publications include analyses of Aristotelian treatises, Hipparchus' astronomical calculations, and Pythagorean manuscripts. Despite no listed awards, his contributions to reconstructing ancient scientific thought are widely recognized.

Bodnar’s research also examines the evolution of natural philosophy within the Early Academy and Hellenistic schools, particularly through figures like Eudemus of Rhodes. His scholarship emphasizes textual fidelity and contextual interpretation, often revisiting controversial works like the Pseudo-Aristotelian treatises.