Becoming God: Pure Reason in Ancient Greek Philosophy (Continuum Studies in Ancient Philosophy) Book

This is a lucid presentation of the first and most influential attempts to weave together philosophical thought on God reason and happiness. Becoming god was an ideal of many ancient Greek philosophers as was the life of reason which they often equated with divinity. This book presents their rival accounts of god reason and the best life arguing that each depended on an attitude toward time. Beginning with Heraclitus whose paradoxical style of reasoning-chiasmus-sought to unite us with his immanent god it then examines the succession of philosophers who followed Parmenides and the Pythagoreans purifying reason of all contradiction finding god to be the transcendent activity of self-contemplation and seeking happiness in the divine life of eternal reason. Plato and Aristotle are shown refining this tradition but its highest expression is granted to Plotinus who nonetheless returned the rejected chiasmus of Heraclitus to god enjoining us once again to aim beyond pure reason for our consummation.Those interested in Greek philosophical and religious thought will find fresh interpretations of its major figures as well as a lucid presentation of the first and most influential attempts to link together divinity rationality and complete happiness. "Continuum Studies in Ancient Philosophy" presents cutting edge scholarship in the history of ancient philosophy. The wholly original arguments perspectives and research findings in titles in this series make it an important and stimulating resource for students and academics from across the fields of Philosophy and Classical Studies.Read More