O'Brien, Carl (2007) Platonism and the Tools of God. Trinity College Dublin Journal of Postgraduate Research Volume, 6. pp. 60-72.
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Abstract
In the biblical accounts of creation (Gen. 1:1 -2:4a and Gen. 2:4bff), it is enough for
God to will something to be created for this to happen. The second account may refer
to God as a potter or builder, but it still differs significantly from Plato’s Timaeus,
where the world is generated by the Demiurge (Greek = Craftsman) who has to literally
toil at the task of ordering the cosmos; an image which was something of an
embarrassment for generations of later Platonists. As the Epicurean of ND I. 19 mockingly
states: “What power of mental vision allowed your master Plato to envisage
the vast and elaborate architectural process adopted by God in constructing the
world? What method of engineering was employed? What iron tools and levers and
cranes?” (trans. LCL modified).
Item Type: | Article |
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Keywords: | Platonism; |
Academic Unit: | Faculty of Arts,Celtic Studies and Philosophy > Ancient Classics |
Item ID: | 2395 |
Depositing User: | Carl O'Brien |
Date Deposited: | 20 Jan 2011 15:16 |
Journal or Publication Title: | Trinity College Dublin Journal of Postgraduate Research Volume |
Publisher: | Trinity College Dublin |
Refereed: | Yes |
Related URLs: | |
URI: | https://mural.maynoothuniversity.ie/id/eprint/2395 |
Use Licence: | This item is available under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike Licence (CC BY-NC-SA). Details of this licence are available here |
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