 It is necessary to decode some of these remarks in order more fully to understand the delicate position Syrianus is in: “Less sophisticated students” (presumably the sons and daughters of the educated class that became increasingly tempted by the new religion) have at least been clever enough to notice that Aristotle appears to make short work of some fundamental Platonic commitments about first principles; this in turn could “seduce” them into disparaging the “inspired philosophy of the ancients” (i.e. paganism). In order to defend paganism, Syrianus finds that he has to attack Aristotle, and he is clearly not comfortable doing this. What precisely was at stake for him?