Synopses & Reviews
Synopsis
Now available in English translation, this in-depth study argues that Aristotle's theology was more traditional that has been widely proposed and that Aristotle perceived the gods as living and benevolent immotals. The book includes a reconsideration of the prevailing view, the relationship between theology and science and myth and a discussion of the role of the divine in philosophy. Bodeues' arguments are supported by useful summaries and the book concludes with a comprehensive bibliography.
Synopsis
This book argues that Aristotle used "the most traditional Greek ideas about the gods" to develop and defend his physical, metaphysical, and ethical teachings. This revolutionary thesis stands in stark contrast to studies of Aristotle's texts that normally portray him as a "natural theologian" using rational tools to elaborate his own conception of God or the gods. Bodeus argues that Aristotle is more closely aligned with popular Greek religion than is usually thought, and attention to the ethical and political writings reveals more about Aristotle's resources for conceiving the gods than study of his theoretical works.
For Bodeus, Aristotle was a refined polytheist who held that the gods were living immortals and that one could attribute to them wisdom, goodness, and benevolent concern for human beings. The author's approach is at odds with the dominant interpretation, which holds that Aristotle's unmoved mover presents his true view of God. This leads to the argument that the philosopher's apparent endorsements of popular religious ideas should be taken seriously and that his inquiries about the unmoved mover belong strictly to theoretical philosophy, which is unable to study the gods. From this novel perspective, many of Aristotle's texts appear in a new light.
Synopsis
Richard Bodeus is Professor of Philosophy at the University of Montreal, and author of The Political Dimensions of Aristotle's Ethics, also published by SUNY Press.