An Exploration of Fate in Plato's Theology
Focusing on the Interpretation of the Timaeus' Cosmology
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 3264229 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Q Zhao (0009-0000-8310-5729, Northeastern University, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2025 |
| Volume | 16 |
| Issue | 4 |
| Pages | 495 |
| Publication date | 2025-04-10 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Religions (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 2077-1444 • E-ISSN: 2077-1444 |
| Publisher | MDPI AG (PUBLISHER • IT) |
| DOI | 10.3390/rel16040495 |
| OpenAlex | W4409329354 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 30 |
In the Timaeus, Plato explores the topic of cosmology. The demiurge creates a perfect cosmos by imitating the eternal being and using necessity as an auxiliary cause. The unique cosmos not only contains immortal gods, but also mortal living beings. Concerning the academic research on cosmology in Plato's Timaeus, scholars have explored it through reason, good, and necessity, and they have conducted in-depth analyses of multiple dimensions, such as human organs and diseases. Nonetheless, we should acknowledge the significance of fate, a hidden thread that runs through all of Plato's cosmology. Whether it is the immortal cosmos created by the demiurge or the mortal humans created by the lesser gods, both demonstrate the significance of fate. This article takes the horizon of divine providence and uses eikos logos as the argument pattern to explore characteristics of determinism contained in the hidden concept of fate in the Timaeus. We cannot ignore the crucial significance of freedom in the thought of fate. Without freedom, the demiurge cannot achieve the overall goodness of the cosmos
Astronomy · Cosmology · Epistemology · Physics · Classical Philosophy and Thought · Historical, Religious, and Philosophical Studies · Philosophy · Religious Studies and Spiritual Practices
Plato's Method in Timaeus
Creation in the Timaeus
Plato's Timaeus and Time
The Speeches in Timaeus' History
Plato's Natural Philosophy
Plato's Cosmology and its Ethical Dimensions
The Relation of the Timaeus to Plato's Later Dialogues
Nature and Divinity in Plato's Timaeus
Tampering with the Timaeus
The Platonic City
The Tripartite Soul in the Timaeus
The Moral Purpose of the Human Body A Reading of Timaeus 69-72
Matter and Flux in Plato's Timaeus
Why the Cosmos Needs a Craftsman
Necessity and Persuasion in Plato's Timaeus
The Place of the Timaeus in Plato's Dialogues
"The Unique Worlds of the "Timaeus
Empedoclean Influences on the Timaeus
| Highly cited | No |
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