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Single Idea 20810

[from 'fragments/reports' by Zeno (Citium), in 28. God / B. Proving God / 2. Proofs of Reason / a. Ontological Proof ]

Full Idea

That which is rational is better than that which is not rational; but there is nothing better than the cosmos; therefore, the cosmos is rational.

Gist of Idea

Rational is better than non-rational; the cosmos is supreme, so it is rational

Source

Zeno (Citium) (fragments/reports [c.294 BCE]), quoted by M. Tullius Cicero - On the Nature of the Gods ('De natura deorum') 2.21

Book Reference

'The Stoics Reader', ed/tr. Inwood,B/Gerson,L.P. [Hackett 2008], p.62


A Reaction

This looks awfully like Anselm's ontological argument to me. The cosmos was the greatest thing that Zeno could conceive.