Single Idea 21262

[catalogued under 29. Religion / A. Polytheistic Religion / 4. Dualist Religion]

Full Idea

There must be more than one soul (not fewer than two) controlling movement and the heavens: that which does good, and that which has the opposite capacity.

Gist of Idea

There must be at least two souls controlling the cosmos, one doing good, the other the opposite

Source

Plato (The Laws [c.349 BCE], 896e)

Book Reference

Plato: 'Complete Works', ed/tr. Cooper,John M. [Hackett 1997], p.1553


A Reaction

[Wording compressed - as often with the dialogues] This idea of controlling opposites is found in Empedocles. Presumably this good soul defers to the Form of the Good, as implied by the Euthyphro Question.

Related Idea

Idea 552 Empedocles said good and evil were the basic principles [Empedocles, by Aristotle]