God and Cosmos in Stoicism
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Author Description
This is a collective study, in nine new essays, of the close connection between theology and cosmology in Stoic philosophy. The Stoic god is best described as the single active physical principle that governs the whole cosmos. The first part of the book covers three essential topics in Stoic theology: the active and demiurgical character of god, his corporeal nature and irreducibility to matter, and fate as the network of causes through which god acts upon the cosmos. The second part turns to Stoic cosmology, and how it relates to other cosmologies of the time. The third part examines the ethical and religious consequences of the Stoic theories of god and cosmos.
Menrva's Summary
THE THESIS
This collection of essays investigates the fundamental integration of theology and cosmology within the framework of Stoic philosophy. Ricardo Salles compiles nine scholarly contributions that analyze the Stoic conception of god as a singular, active physical principle governing the universe. The text evaluates how this divine agency functions through corporeal matter and causal networks to shape the physical and ethical reality of the cosmos.
THE SCOPE MAP
What You Will Find
- Analysis of the demiurgical and active nature of the Stoic god
- Examination of fate as a causal network within the physical world
- Comparative studies between Stoic cosmology and contemporary ancient systems
- Discussion of the ethical and religious implications of Stoic physics
Scope Limits
- The text does not provide a general introduction to Stoic ethics independent of its theological foundations
- It does not cover the historical development of Stoicism beyond the classical period
THE AUTHORITY PERSPECTIVE
Scholars and students of ancient philosophy frequently cite this collection for its rigorous focus on the technical intersection of Stoic physics and divinity. Experts highlight the text as a specialized resource for those seeking to understand the nuanced relationship between Stoic materialism and their theological worldview.
Page Count:
285
Publication Date:
2009-01-01
Publisher:
OUP Oxford
ISBN-10:
0191609595
ISBN-13:
9780191609596
Philosophy
History & Surveys
Theology
Cosmology
stoicism
Stoics
