Xenophanes the Theologian

Summary

In this episode of Solomon's Cave, we delve into the life and philosophy of Xenophanes, a Greek philosopher from the 6th century BC. Hailing from Colophon, Xenophanes critiqued the glorification of athletes and the popular religion of his time, challenging the anthropomorphic depiction of gods in Homer and Hesiod's works. He introduced early epistemology, suggesting knowledge comes from inquiry rather than divine revelation. Xenophanes proposed that the Earth is infinite and posited a theory about the origin of the Sun and seashells on mountains. His theological contributions include the concept of a non-anthropomorphic, omniscient, and unchanging God, setting the stage for future philosophical discussions on being and change.

Takeaways

• 😀 Zeno of Elea was a philosopher from the Ionian city of Elea, born around 570 BC and lived until around 475 BC.
• 🏠 He was known for his extensive travels throughout the Greek-speaking world, including as far as Syracuse in Sicily.
• 📜 Zeno was one of the earliest philosophers to leave written works, but unlike Plato and Aristotle, he wrote in a poetic style similar to Homer and Hesiod.
• 🤔 His writings are fragmentary, which makes it challenging to fully grasp his philosophical meanings and conclusions.
• 🏅 Zeno criticized the glorification of athletes, arguing they did not provide concrete benefits to the city, which was unpopular given the cultural importance of sports.
• 🙏 He was critical of the popular religion, particularly the stories told about the gods by poets like Homer and Hesiod, which ascribed negative human traits to the gods.
• 🌍 Zeno introduced an epistemology, suggesting that knowledge is not innate or given by the gods, but is acquired through inquiry and investigation.
• 🌐 He proposed that the earth was infinitely wide and deep, not floating on water or air, and that the Sun was formed from fire that rose from the earth.
• 🔬 Zeno was one of the first to comment on seashells and fossils found on mountains, suggesting past geological changes where mountains were once underwater.
• 🤝 He believed in a non-anthropomorphic God, who is omniscient, unchanging, and omnipresent, differing significantly from human form and thought.
• 📚 Zeno's ideas on the nature of God and the opposition of being and not-being laid foundational concepts that influenced later philosophical thought.

Q & A

Who was Xenophanes and when did he live?

Xenophanes was a philosopher who lived between roughly 570 and 475 BC.

Where was Xenophanes originally from?

Xenophanes was originally from Colophon, an Ionian city not far from Mylasa.

What was Xenophanes' opinion on the glorification of athletes?

Xenophanes was not a big fan of people glorifying athletes like sprinters or boxers, as he believed they did not provide any concrete benefits to the city.

What was Xenophanes' view on the popular religion of his time?

Xenophanes was critical of the popular religion, particularly the stories told about the gods by poets like Homer and Hesiod, which ascribed human flaws to the gods.

How did Xenophanes' views on religion differ from the common beliefs of his time?

Xenophanes disagreed with the anthropomorphic depictions of gods in myths and suggested that if animals could create art, they would depict gods in their own image, indicating that gods should not be seen as having the same appearance as humans.

What is the significance of Xenophanes' epistemology in Western thought?

Xenophanes is significant for introducing the beginnings of epistemology in Western thought, suggesting that knowledge is not innate but is acquired through inquiry and investigation.

What was Xenophanes' stance on the nature of the gods?

Xenophanes believed in a single, non-anthropomorphic God who is completely different from humans in form and thought, and who is omniscient, unchanging, and omnipresent.

What did Xenophanes propose about the earth and the sun?

Xenophanes proposed that the earth was infinitely wide and deep, not standing or floating on water or air, and that the sun was formed from fire that came up from the earth.

How did Xenophanes explain the presence of seashells on mountains?

Xenophanes noted the presence of seashells on mountain tops and fossils of marine life, suggesting that these mountains were once underwater.

What philosophical contributions did Xenophanes make regarding the nature of reality?

Xenophanes contributed to the discussion on the nature of reality by introducing the concept of opposites, such as being and not-being, and suggesting that everything could be explained by the combination of water and earth.

Outlines

00:00

📜 Introduction to Zeno of Elea

The video introduces Zeno of Elea, a philosopher who lived between 570 and 475 BC, originally from the Ionian city of Elea. Zeno was known for his extensive travels throughout the Greek-speaking world, including as far as Syracuse in Sicily. Unlike Plato and Aristotle, Zeno's writing style was poetic, akin to Homer or Hesiod, or the Jewish prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah. This poetic style, while beautiful, can sometimes obscure his meaning, especially given the fragmentary nature of the texts that remain. Zeno was critical of the glorification of athletes and the popular religion of his time, particularly the stories told about the gods by poets like Homer and Hesiod. He argued that these stories ascribed negative human traits to the gods, which he found unacceptable. Zeno also introduced a unique perspective on the gods, suggesting that if animals could create images of gods, they would create them in their own image, implying that the human depiction of gods is likely inaccurate.

05:02

🌟 Zeno's Contributions to Philosophy and Theology

Zeno of Elea is highlighted for his significant contributions to philosophy and theology. He is noted for being one of the first Western thinkers to develop an epistemology, or a theory of knowledge, suggesting that humans are not born with all knowledge and that much of what we believe can be incorrect. Zeno emphasized the importance of inquiry and investigation to gain a better understanding of truth. His views on the nature of the gods were also groundbreaking. He proposed the existence of one God, unlike humans in form or thought, who is omniscient and unchanging. Zeno criticized the idea of gods changing or dying, arguing that such notions imply a time when gods do not exist, which is illogical. His ideas about the nature of reality and the fundamental elements, such as his belief that the earth was infinitely wide and deep and his theories on the origins of seashells on mountains, show a deep engagement with the physical world. Zeno's philosophical stance on the opposition of being and not-being, and the immutability of existence, would later influence other philosophers.

Keywords

💡Sanofi

Sanofi is mentioned as the name of the philosopher Colophon, which seems to be a mispronunciation or a typo in the script. Colophon was an ancient Greek philosopher who lived between 570 and 475 BC. The error likely stems from a confusion with the modern pharmaceutical company Sanofi. In the context of the video, the correct reference should be to Colophon, emphasizing the importance of accurate historical references when discussing philosophical figures.

💡Colophon

Colophon, as mentioned, is a philosopher from the Ionian city of Colophon, who lived between 570 and 475 BC. He is significant in the video as one of the earliest philosophers whose writings have survived, albeit in fragmentary form. His work is discussed in terms of his poetic style and his critical views on society and religion, making him a central figure in the exploration of early Greek philosophy.

💡Poetic style

The term 'poetic style' refers to the manner in which Colophon wrote his philosophical works, which was more aligned with the style of Homer or Hesiod rather than the prose dialogues of Plato or the logical arguments of Aristotle. This style is characterized by its use of metaphor, imagery, and rhythm, which can make the interpretation of philosophical ideas more challenging but also more artistically rich.

💡Fragmentary writings

The script mentions that Colophon's writings are 'fragmentary,' which means that only small parts of his work have survived to the present day. This poses a challenge for scholars trying to understand his full philosophical contributions, as they must piece together his ideas from incomplete texts. The video cautions viewers to be careful with conclusions drawn from such incomplete sources.

💡Critique of popular religion

Colophon is portrayed in the video as a critic of the popular religion of his time. He disagreed with the stories told about the gods by poets like Homer and Hesiod, who ascribed human vices to the gods. This critique is significant as it reflects a shift in philosophical thought towards a more rational and less mythological understanding of the divine.

💡Anthropomorphism

The concept of anthropomorphism is discussed in relation to Colophon's views on the gods. He argued against the idea that gods should have human characteristics or appearances, suggesting that different cultures attribute different human-like traits to their deities. Colophon's critique of anthropomorphism indicates a move towards a more abstract and universal concept of the divine.

💡Epistemology

Epistemology, the theory of knowledge, is introduced in the video as a philosophical concept that Colophon is said to have contributed to. He is quoted as suggesting that humans do not know everything from birth and that inquiry and investigation are necessary to discover better understanding. This represents an early attempt to systematize the process of gaining knowledge.

💡True beliefs vs. knowledge

The video distinguishes between 'true beliefs' and 'knowledge' using Colophon's philosophy. While true beliefs are held with a degree of certainty, they lack the absolute proof that constitutes knowledge. This distinction is important for understanding the development of philosophical thought on the nature of certainty and truth.

💡Infinite earth

Colophon's belief in an 'infinite earth' is mentioned, suggesting that he thought the earth was not limited by water or air and had no boundaries. This idea challenges the geographical and cosmological views of his time and reflects an early attempt to understand the nature of the physical world.

💡Theology

Theology, the study of the nature of God, is a significant theme in the video in relation to Colophon's philosophy. He is quoted as describing a single, all-knowing, and unchanging God, which contrasts with the anthropomorphic gods of popular religion. This theological perspective is foundational to later philosophical and religious discussions about the nature of the divine.

Highlights

Sanofi, also known as Xenophanes, was a philosopher who lived between 570 and 475 BC.

Originally from Colophon, an Ionian city, he moved extensively throughout the Greek-speaking world.

Xenophanes was one of the earliest philosophers to leave written works, though they are fragmentary.

His writing style was poetic, similar to Homer or Hesiod, which can make interpretation challenging.

He criticized the glorification of athletes, arguing they provided no concrete benefits to the city.

Xenophanes was critical of popular religion and the depiction of gods in myths by Homer and Hesiod.

He argued that gods should not be ascribed human characteristics or appearances.

Xenophanes introduced a new epistemology, suggesting knowledge comes from inquiry and investigation.

He distinguished between knowledge and true beliefs, emphasizing the importance of certainty.

Xenophanes proposed that the Earth is infinitely wide and deep, not floating on water or air.

He suggested the Sun is formed from fire that comes up from the Earth.

Noted the presence of seashells on mountains, hinting at past geological changes.

Xenophanes believed in a God that is completely different from humans, introducing a non-anthropomorphic deity.

He described this God as omniscient, unchanging, and omnipresent.

Xenophanes introduced the concept of opposites, being and not-being, which became significant in later philosophy.

He argued that God, as a being, cannot change due to the nature of existence.

Transcripts

hello and welcome back to Solomon's cave

in this video I want to look at Sanofi

nests of colophon a philosopher who

lived between roughly 570 and 475 BC he

was originally from colorful

an Ionian city not far from my leaders

and sameness but at the age of about 25

he packed up his suitcase and moved and

he kept on moving as he was said to have

lived in a great number of places all

throughout the greek-speaking world

going at least as far as Syracuse in

Sicily he is also one of the earliest

philosophers who left as some of his

writing but he did not write engaging

prose dialogues like Plato nor technical

logical arguments like Aristotle his

style was much more in line with what

Homer or Hesiod did or Jewish prophets

like Isaiah or Jeremiah because he wrote

in a poetic style now poetry is great

and all but it does make it a little bit

more difficult sometimes at least to

really grasp his meaning especially if

what is left of his writings is

fragmentary so even though we have some

with writings with us still today we

should be careful with our conclusions

so what do we know well for one he was

not a big fan of people glorifying

athletes like sprinters or boxers they

were getting all these honours he

complained but they don't provide any

concrete benefits to the city this must

not have been a very popular opinion at

the time since sports were as they are

today a big part of public life and one

of relatively few sources of

entertainment that was available to

everyone and when you are critical of

one thing in society you are usually

critical of other things as well one

very interesting aspect of his culture

that Zeno fenneis was critical of was

the popular religion now he didn't seem

to criticize people bringing sacrifices

in temples or participating in the holy

celebrations but he strongly disagreed

with the mayor

that were being told about the gas

especially homer and hazards were

criticized Homer of course wrote about

the Trojan War and Hesiod wrote about

all sorts of myths the no furnace

criticized them for how they described

the gods since they have ascribed to the

gods all deeds which among men are

matters of reproach and blame thieving

adultery and deceiving one another

ouch that hurts but he goes even further

than that since he also said mount

racism warning here Ethiopians say that

their gods are snot-nosed and dark

Thracians

that they are gray eyed and red-haired

and he went even further than that since

he claimed that if horses at hands or

oxen or lions or if they could draw with

their hands and produce works as man do

then horses would draw figures of gods

like horses and oxen like oxen and each

would render the bodies to be the same

frame that each of them have so not only

should gods not have the same character

as people they shouldn't even be seen as

having the same appearance as man so

he's a shop observer and critic of some

of the commonly held values and beliefs

of his contemporaries but what did he

himself believed and here seemingly for

the first time in Western thought we

have the beginnings of an epistemology

that is a theory of how we can search

and find the truth the quote about this

topic goes as follows

by no means that the guard's intimate

all things to mortals from the beginning

but in time inquiring they discover

better this means that we don't know

everything there is to know when we are

born nor are the things we think we know

necessarily true many of our instincts

could be wrong and the gods are not

giving us any insight in reality either

the gods did not walk among us as the

myths from the ancient poets described

nor do they still talk to us by

definition all of that is nonsense and

that is not how we gain knowledge or

understanding instead we should inquire

investigate ask questions and then we

will ultimately get better it is often

suggested that is an openness was the

first to distinguish between knowledge

and true beliefs to give you an example

of the difference I know that I exist

but I don't know with the same kind of

absolute certainty that Australia kists

I've never been there sorry Aussies I've

only heard stories seen pictures etc so

I'm fairly certain that Australia exists

in fact I'm willing to bet an awful lot

of money on whether or not Australia

exists but I don't have an absolute and

definitive proof that it does so in a

way I only believe that Australia exists

this belief is true so it is a true

belief but it is not knowledge now

getting back to Zeno furnace what it's

Zeno furnace belief about the world and

more interestingly about the gods

what Oh be honest his science wasn't

very impressive we've seen more

interesting theories with anak samandar

and an examinees for example but he did

have a few ideas of his own for one he

believed that the earth was infinitely

wide and infinitely deep meaning it is

not standing or floating on water or air

nor was it surrounded by anything also

the Sun came into being from the fire

came up from the earth and then combined

themselves into a fiery ball he was also

the first to comment about the fact that

there are seashells on the tops of

mountains as well as fossils of fish and

other animals he had a complicated

theory about how all of this came to be

but the main idea was that apparently

these mountains at

point were underwater and finally on to

a more meta level he also had something

to say about the fundamental basics of

reality it seems that he along with

Haley's believed that the our key was

water but it wasn't just water it was

water and earth like wet and dry the

opposites of Anaximander and that if you

combine water and earth and you can

explain everything

but now let's move on to what is perhaps

the most interesting contribution to

philosophy and that is a topic of

theology and here we get a couple of

very interesting quotes earlier

Anaximander had talked about the divine

substance called the Apeiron and

Pythagoras had claimed to have received

mythical revelations from God but Zeno

Furness gave us some interesting

insights in his theology there is one

God

greatest among gods and men not at all

like mortals in form or thought so God

is completely different from human

beings and then here he says all he sees

all he thinks and whole he here so this

God can see and hear and know everything

and about the nature of God he said

always he remains in the same state

changing not at all nor is it fitting

that he come and go to different places

at different times and then here's a

quote about someone writing about

acidophilus as an old furnace used to

say that those who say that the gods are

born are just as empires as those who

say that they die since either way it

follows that there is a time when the

gods do not exist

so to summarize the no furnace believed

in a God who is not at all like humans

that is called a non anthropomorphic God

this God is omniscient meaning he knows

everything and he's unchanging and

moving and this God always is and this

leads to some interesting conclusions

first of all the know furnace introduced

the idea of a new opposite namely the

opposite of being and not-being or

existing and not existing they so become

very important later on and then he says

that since God is he cannot change

because apparently there is something

about being that prevents change now

keep those things in mind when we

discuss the next philosopher since this

story is not over yet to stay up-to-date

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