Single Idea 1555

[catalogued under 28. God / B. Proving God / 3. Proofs of Evidence / c. Teleological Proof critique]

Full Idea

In the old days people regarded the sun, the moon, rivers, springs, and everything else which is helpful for life as gods, because we are helped by them, just as the Egyptians regard the Nile as a god.

Gist of Idea

People used to think anything helpful to life was a god, as the Egyptians think the Nile a god

Source

Prodicus (fragments/reports [c.423 BCE], B05), quoted by Sextus Empiricus - Against the Professors (six books) 9.18

Book Reference

'The First Philosophers', ed/tr. Waterfield,Robin [OUP 2000], p.249