Divine and Human Knowledge: Divine Synesthesia in the Philosophy of Xenophanes of Colophon
Abstract
The aim of the present article is to analyze the poetry of Xenophanes of Colophon concerning his epistemological considerations with the notion of god proposed by him. Traditionally, Xenophanes is well known as a philosopher engaged in the debate on the meaningfulness of mythological ideas. At the same time, he advocates the concept of god, which is different from pictures transmitted through The Greek epic. It shall be shown how the theological approach of the Colophonian finds its justification in his remarks on cognitive abilities, especially in creatively used opposition between human and divine knowledge. Recently indicated, the connection between Xenophanes’ theology and his epistemological theses is not exhausted in the critique of religious anthropomorphism but is more profound, and based on the awareness of the impossibility of clear knowledge (saphes) for a human being. The latter is, however attributed to god alone, who gains the knowledge in the manner of synesthesia.
Keywords
Xenophanes; god; synesthesia; cognition; scepticism
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University of Silesia in Katowice Poland
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0194-7162
Sebastian Śpiewak – absolwent filozofii i filologii klasycznej na Uniwersytecie Śląskim w Katowicach, gdzie pełni obecnie funkcję adiunkta w Instytucie Filozofii. Jego zainteresowania naukowe dotyczą historii filozofii starożytnej, ze szczególnym uwzględnieniem epistemologii, ontologii i historii rozwoju idei filozoficznych
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