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The Demiurge in Ancient Thought: Secondary Gods and Divine Mediators

Paperback / softback

Main Details

Title The Demiurge in Ancient Thought: Secondary Gods and Divine Mediators
Authors and Contributors      By (author) Carl Sean O'Brien
Physical Properties
Format:Paperback / softback
Pages:349
Dimensions(mm): Height 230,Width 153
Category/GenreWestern philosophy - Ancient to c 500
ISBN/Barcode 9781107428096
ClassificationsDewey:180
Audience
Professional & Vocational
Illustrations 1 Tables, black and white; 1 Line drawings, black and white

Publishing Details

Publisher Cambridge University Press
Imprint Cambridge University Press
Publication Date 8 November 2018
Publication Country United Kingdom

Description

How was the world generated and how does matter continue to be ordered so that the world can continue functioning? Questions like these have existed as long as humanity has been capable of rational thought. In antiquity, Plato's Timaeus introduced the concept of the Demiurge, or Craftsman-god, to answer them. This lucid and wide-ranging book argues that the concept of the Demiurge was highly influential on the many discussions operating in Middle Platonist, Gnostic, Hermetic and Christian contexts in the first three centuries AD. It explores key metaphysical problems such as the origin of evil, the relationship between matter and the First Principle and the deployment of ever-increasing numbers of secondary deities to insulate the First Principle from the sensible world. It also focuses on the decreasing importance of demiurgy in Neoplatonism, with its postulation of procession and return.

Author Biography

Carl Sean O'Brien is Alexander von Humboldt Fellow in the Department of Philosophy at Ruprecht-Karls-Universitat, Heidelberg and Research Associate in the Centre for the Study of the Platonic Tradition at Trinity College Dublin.