Aristotle on ReligionAristotle is a severe critic of traditional religion, believing it to be false, yet he also holds that traditional religion and its institutions are necessary if any city, including the ideal city he describes in the Politics, is to exist and flourish. This book provides, for the first time, a coherent account of the socio-political role which Aristotle attributes to traditional religion despite his rejection of its content. Mor Segev argues that Aristotle thinks traditional religion is politically necessary because it prepares the ground for what he considers the pinnacle of human endeavor: attaining the knowledge of first philosophy, whose objects are real beings worthy of being called gods. Developing this interpretation, Segev goes on to analyze Aristotle's references to the myths of traditional Greek religion, and to assess his influence on medieval Jewish and Christian theology and philosophy of religion. |
Contents
Aristotles Rejection of the Content of Traditional Religion | 13 |
Traditional Religion and Its Natural Function in Aristotle | 49 |
The Usefulness | 86 |
Aristotle on the Possible Uses of the Myths of The Ancients | 125 |
The Influence of Aristotles View of Religion on Medieval | 140 |
Conclusion | 167 |
| 175 | |
Index Locorum | 183 |
| 189 | |
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Common terms and phrases
according Albertus ancient anthropomorphic anthropomorphic depictions anthropomorphic gods argues Aristotelian Aristotle says Aristotle thinks Aristotle's Politics Aristotle's theory Aristotle's version Aristotle's view Atlas attributes belief Bodéüs cave allegory cave dwellers Chapter choice-worthy Cicero citizens cognition concerning content of traditional criticism depictions of divinity discussion divine providence EE VII eternal humans eudaimonia Eudemian Ethics Eudemus explicitly fact false fragment friendship heavenly bodies heavens Hesiod ibid ideal polis ideas immortal living thing intellect interpretation knowing Maimonides Metaphysics moral mythical myths Nicomachean Ethics objects one's opinion parables passage phenomena phil philia philosophical Plato Plato's poetry prime mover purpose question reason rejects religion in Aristotle's religious role Ross seems seen self-cognition self-knowledge self-sufficiency sense perception social stability soul Strabo teleological argument Theology theoretical contemplation theory of Forms tion Torah traditional gods traditional religion true gods truth unmoved mover VIII W. D. Ross wealth acquisition wonder Xenophanes Zeus καὶ τὸ