History of Philosophy Part Three: Xenophanes

By Peter Adamson in February 2024

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Runtime: 19 mins

Peter Adamson continues his history of philosophy by looking at Xenophanes. Ancient Greeks, despite revering their gods, told scandalous stories about them. Homer's epics, especially the Iliad, depict gods as central to human affairs, influencing battles and emotions. Xenophanes critiqued such anthropomorphic depictions, urging a more abstract concept of deity, directly challenging the authority of poets in shaping religious beliefs, advocating for a more transcendent understanding of divinity.

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Provisional captions. Produced in February 2024.

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