Cosmos of the Ancients

The Greek Philosophers on Myth and Cosmology

Aristotle

ith Aristotle (384-322 BC) there is, just as with his teacher Plato, a mass of writing remaining, exceeding what can be dealt with extensively here. Still, regarding myths and things of divine nature, Aristotle makes the task easier than does Plato, since there is one of his many books, particularly concentrated on the subject: Metaphysics. Here he gives a personally commented, often sharp, review of past theories of cosmology, and presents his own. For a sufficient coverage of his perspectives on these things, Metaphysics will do.

Aristotle's judgement on myth can be harsh, as expressed in relation to "the school of Hesiod" and similar "theologians", who have said that those who do not eat the nectar and ambrosia are mortal, but Aristotle questions how immortals can be of need of food. Then he plainly states: "about those who have invented clever mythologies it is not worthwhile to take a serious book."

On the other hand, he also speaks very appreciatively about the myths: lovers of stories were in a way lovers of wisdom, since stories were composed of such wonders that make man start to philosophize. Those wonders were mainly astronomical and cosmological ones. The birth of mythology he describes in closer detail in connection to his discussion on how many primal movers and movements there can be, relating to a multitude of gods. Tradition needs to be considered:

From old - and indeed extremely ancient - times there has been handed down to our later age intimations of a mythical character to the effect that the stars are gods and that the divine embraces the whole of nature. The further details were subsequently added in the manner of myth. Their purpose was the persuasion of the masses and general legislative and political expediency. For instance, the myths tell us that these gods are anthropomorphic or resemble some of the other animals and give us other, comparable extrapolations of the basic picture.

He suggests to discard the embroidered details, but to recognize that in mythical perspectives the primary substances were gods - a claim he calls "inspired", pointing out also that though many other arts and doctrines may have perished through time, "these ancient cosmologies have been preserved, like holy relics, right up to the present day."

His own supreme deity is the primal mover of the universe, someone so elevated as to be only thinking - the highest form of life - and thinking about thinking, at that. In this tautological fashion, this supreme being is untarnished, untouchable, closed within its own perfection. Were it to think about anything other than its own thinking, it would be vulnerable, in risk of losing its grandeur or its perfection. This being he calls god, and defines:

God is a supreme and eternal living being, so that to God belong life and continuous and eternal duration. For that is what God is.

Literature

Aristotle, Metaphysics, translated by Hugh Lawson-Tancred, London 1998.

© Stefan Stenudd 2000

The Greek Philosophers

Introduction

Thales

Anaximander

Anaximenes

Pherecydes of Syros

Pythagoras

Xenophanes

Theagenes

Hecataeus

Heraclitus

Pindar

Parmenides

Anaxagoras

Empedocles

Herodotus

Gorgias

Melissus

Protagoras

Euripides

Prodicus of Ceos

Leucippus

Democritus

Critias

Antisthenes

Diagoras of Melos

Plato

Aristotle

Epicurus

Euhemerus

Table of the Greek Philosophers

Literature

The book

Aristotle

Introduction

Aristotle's Life

Timeline

Aristotle's Poetics

Aristotle's Cosmology

Cosmos of the Ancients. Book by Stefan Stenudd.

Cosmos of the Ancients - the Book

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