Oliver Primavesi

Oliver Primavesi is a Professor of Greek Philology at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich, specializing in Ancient Greek texts of Aristotle and Empedocles. He has been awarded the Leibniz Prize (2007) and is a Doctor Honoris Causa of Sorbonne University. His work focuses on editorial and exegetical analysis of Aristotelian manuscripts and newly discovered Empedoclean fragments, emphasizing rigorous textual scholarship to inform modern philosophical understanding.

Research Interests:
Primavesi’s research integrates Greek and Latin linguistics, manuscript analysis, and cultural contexts. He prioritizes critical editions of Aristotelian works using all extant Greek manuscripts and medieval translations, as well as reconstructing Empedocles’ lost poems via papyrus fragments and scholia. His approach bridges classical philology with interdisciplinary collaboration, particularly with Sorbonne University’s Marwan Rashed on the Metaphysics edition.

Awards & Projects:

• Leibniz Prize (2007)
• Co-leads the new edition of Aristotle’s Metaphysics with Sorbonne University
• Contributed to editorial work on Empedocles’ On Nature and Florentine scholia

Academic Collaborations:
Active in Sorbonne committees, thesis examinations, and cotutelle programs. Partnerships include Alain Martin, Nathan Carlig, and Marwan Rashed on textual recovery projects.

Honors:
The Sorbonne honorary doctorate reflects his longstanding academic ties and collaborative impact in classical scholarship.