Combining Texts

Ideas for 'Parmenides', 'Politics' and 'Aristotle on Essence and Explanation'

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3 ideas

28. God / A. Divine Nature / 2. Divine Nature
God is not blessed and happy because of external goods, but because of his own nature [Aristotle]
     Full Idea: God himself is not blessed and happy on account of any of the external goods but because of himself and what he is by his own nature.
     From: Aristotle (Politics [c.332 BCE], 1323b24)
     A reaction: Aristotle was famous for saying that external goods are important for the virtuous human life, so this idea is his corrective, which shows that they are of limited importance.
28. God / B. Proving God / 2. Proofs of Reason / a. Ontological Proof
We couldn't discuss the non-existence of the One without knowledge of it [Plato]
     Full Idea: There must be knowledge of the one, or else not even the meaning of the words 'if the one does not exist' would be known.
     From: Plato (Parmenides [c.364 BCE], 160d)
28. God / C. Attitudes to God / 4. God Reflects Humanity
Men imagine gods to be of human shape, with a human lifestyle [Aristotle]
     Full Idea: Just as men imagine gods in human shape, so they imagine their way of life to be like that of men.
     From: Aristotle (Politics [c.332 BCE], 1252b26)
     A reaction: A common Greek observation. It is more significant that we anthropomorphise the thinking of the gods, as well as their physiques and banquets.