Aristotle and the Theology of the Living Immortals

Häftad, Engelska, 2000

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Argues that Aristotle used the most traditional Greek ideas about the gods to develop and defend his physical, metaphysical, and ethical teachings.This book argues that Aristotle used "the most traditional Greek ideas about the gods" to develop and defend his physical, metaphysical, and ethical teachings. This revolutionary thesis stands in stark contrast to studies of Aristotle's texts that normally portray him as a "natural theologian" using rational tools to elaborate his own conception of God or the gods. Bodeus argues that Aristotle is more closely aligned with popular Greek religion than is usually thought, and attention to the ethical and political writings reveals more about Aristotle's resources for conceiving the gods than study of his theoretical works.For Bodeus, Aristotle was a refined polytheist who held that the gods were living immortals and that one could attribute to them wisdom, goodness, and benevolent concern for human beings. The author's approach is at odds with the dominant interpretation, which holds that Aristotle's unmoved mover presents his true view of God. This leads to the argument that the philosopher's apparent endorsements of popular religious ideas should be taken seriously and that his inquiries about the unmoved mover belong strictly to theoretical philosophy, which is unable to study the gods. From this novel perspective, many of Aristotle's texts appear in a new light.

Produktinformation

Utgivningsdatum2000-09-22
Mått150 x 227 x 22 mm
Vikt517 g
FormatHäftad
SpråkEngelska
SerieSUNY series in Ancient Greek Philosophy
Antal sidor375
FörlagState University of New York Press
ISBN9780791447284
ÖversättareGarrett, Jan

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Translator's PrefaceAbbreviationsIntroduction 1. Toward Reconsideration of the Prevailing View IntroductionReasonable opinions about the godsTexts on the margin of LambdaThe separate substance of LambdaThe notion of natural theologySo-called theological scienceConclusions 2. The Celestial Gods and the Divine Objects of Philosophy IntroductionVisible and invisible celestial naturesOn the proper use of opinion in the celestial physicsThe testimony of received beliefs regarding the celestial godsThe evidence of languageThe authority of PlatoConclusions 3. The Gods of the City in the Stories of the Wise IntroductionTheology and ScienceThe mythical addition of theologyThe historical testimony of mythsThe reason for theology and the discovery of the gods of the cityConclusions 4. An Appropriation of the Tradition about the Gods IntroductionThe existence of the gods: defense of the tradition against the naturalistsThe logic of received beliefs about the godsThe beneficence of the gods: reasonable argumentsThe gods as paradigm of the macrocosmConclusions 5. The Gods as Benefactors: A Reasonable Tenet IntroductionFrom deference to pietyThe foundatins of pietyThe mutual love of gods and humansThe gods and fortuneThe gods as objects of imitationConclusions General Conclusions AppendixTheology and Ways of Speaking Notes Blibliography Index of Ancient Authors Index of Modern Authors Subject Index

"This book is rich and provocative—indeed iconoclastic by any measure. Bodéüs demonstrates, quite successfully in my view, that traditional theology greatly influenced Aristotle's own conception of theology. Moreover, he argues that theology is not a science for Aristotle, for what we generally associate with Aristotelian theology—the unmoved mover—is not actually a part of theology." — Gerard Naddaf, coauthor of Plato the Myth Maker