Single Idea 1719

[catalogued under 28. God / A. Divine Nature / 4. Divine Contradictions]

Full Idea

It is a consequence of Empedocles' view that God is the most unintelligent thing, for he alone is ignorant of one of the elements, namely strife, whereas mortal creatures are familiar with them all.

Gist of Idea

In Empedocles' theory God is ignorant because, unlike humans, he doesn't know one of the elements (strife)

Source

comment on Empedocles (fragments/reports [c.453 BCE]) by Aristotle - De Anima 410b08

Book Reference

Aristotle: 'De Anima (On the Soul)', ed/tr. Lawson-Tancred,H.C. [Penguin 1986], p.151