Single Idea 6038

[catalogued under 28. God / C. Attitudes to God / 2. Pantheism]

Full Idea

The Stoics say that god is that which matter is or that god is the inseparable quality of matter and that he moves through matter just as semen moves through the genital organs.

Gist of Idea

Stoics say god is matter, or an inseparable quality of it, or is the power within it

Source

report of Stoic school (fragments/reports [c.200 BCE]) by Chalcidius - Commentary on Plato's 'Timaeus' 294

Book Reference

'Hellenistic Philosophy: Intro Readings', ed/tr. Inwood,B. /Gerson,L. [Hackett 1988], p.124


A Reaction

This actually offers three different theories - of identity, of supervenience, and of omnipresence. It certainly seems close to pantheism. Such theories invite Ockham's Razor, which would shift talk to 'nature', and leave out 'god'.