Single Idea 24238

[catalogued under 27. Natural Reality / E. Cosmology / 3. The Beginning]

Full Idea

The god found everything visible in a state of turmoil, moving in a discordant and chaotic manner, so he led it from chaos to order, which he regarded as in all ways better.

Gist of Idea

The god found chaos, and led it to superior order

Source

Plato (Timaeus [c.362 BCE], 30a)

Book Reference

Plato: 'Timaeus and Critias', ed/tr. Waterfield,Robin [OUP 2008], p.18


A Reaction

This god is usually referred to as the 'demiurge', who creates the ordered nature which is itself a god. I find this view more appealing than the creation of the cosmos ex nihilo, our of nothing.