more from Prodicus

Single Idea 1543

[catalogued under 28. God / C. Attitudes to God / 5. Atheism]

Full Idea

He says that the gods worshipped by men neither exist nor have knowledge, but that the ancients exalted crops and everything else which is useful for life.

Gist of Idea

He denied the existence of the gods, saying they are just exaltations of things useful for life

Source

Prodicus (fragments/reports [c.423 BCE]), quoted by Anon (Herc) - fragments 1428 19.12

Book Reference

'The First Philosophers', ed/tr. Waterfield,Robin [OUP 2000], p.250