Polytheism in Greek Philosophy

Polytheism in Greek Philosophy challenges the perception of philosophy as a march of reason distancing itself from religion and spirituality, and most of all from polytheism. The ancient Greek philosophers were polytheists who worshiped the many Gods of their heritage, not as a concession to popular sentiment, nor as a transition to a more 'enlightened' monotheism or atheism, but with sincere piety, seeking to understand the blessedness of the Gods and how humans can share in it. They sought to illuminate the myths and rituals of their tradition with knowledge about the nature of Gods and the role of worship, beyond the tangible things we pray for, striving to understand what it means to be with the Gods. This book takes you on a journey through myths, instilling an appreciation for their wisdom, and the ideas by which philosophers conceptualized the Gods, such as unity and multiplicity, immortality, beauty, and cosmic order. It studies poets inspired by the Muses, tragedians writing for Dionysos, and thinkers who saw theoretical speculation as the highest form of devotion. It spans the Archaic, Classical, Hellenistic, and Late Antique periods, including the Platonists who confronted Christian hegemony and formulated a theological framework unsurpassed in its sophistication.

Polytheism in Greek Philosophy challenges the perception of philosophy as a march of reason distancing itself from religion and spirituality, and most of all from polytheism. The ancient Greek philosophers were polytheists who worshiped the many Gods of their heritage, not as a concession to popular sentiment, nor as a transition to a more 'enlightened' monotheism or atheism, but with sincere piety, seeking to understand the blessedness of the Gods and how humans can share in it. They sought to illuminate the myths and rituals of their tradition with knowledge about the nature of Gods and the role of worship, beyond the tangible things we pray for, striving to understand what it means to be with the Gods. This book takes you on a journey through myths, instilling an appreciation for their wisdom, and the ideas by which philosophers conceptualized the Gods, such as unity and multiplicity, immortality, beauty, and cosmic order. It studies poets inspired by the Muses, tragedians writing for Dionysos, and thinkers who saw theoretical speculation as the highest form of devotion. It spans the Archaic, Classical, Hellenistic, and Late Antique periods, including the Platonists who confronted Christian hegemony and formulated a theological framework unsurpassed in its sophistication.