more from Sextus Empiricus

Single Idea 22732

[catalogued under 28. God / C. Attitudes to God / 4. God Reflects Humanity]

Full Idea

It is said that …the idea that God is eternal and imperishable and perfect in happiness was introduced by way of transference from mankind.

Gist of Idea

The perfections of God were extrapolations from mankind

Source

Sextus Empiricus (Against the Physicists (two books) [c.180], I.045)

Book Reference

Sextus Empiricus: 'Against the Physicists/Against the Ethicists', ed/tr. Bury,R.G. [Harvard Loeb 1997], p.25


A Reaction

This view is found in Hume, and in Feuerbach. I presume 'transference' means extrapolation and idealisation. If God exists, we may have no option but to think of God anthropomorphically.

Related Idea

Idea 22730 All men agree that God is blessed, imperishable, happy and good [Sext.Empiricus]