The One and the Many: How Platonic Philosophy Explains Multiple Gods within European Paganism

But God is not the only god. As reality emanates from Him, like light from the Sun, what is first created is that which is most similar to Him. But if God is the king of everything, then what is most like God is a king of something: of creation (Zeus), of harmony (Apollo), of wisdom (Athena). We call these kings gods. As Plotinus writes, “what those who understand God’s power do is not to reduce divinity to a single god but to show that … He, while remaining who He is, creates all the numerous gods who depend on Him and derive their existence from Him and through Him.” The Enneads 2.9.9.34–39.

Socrates as a model for civic virtue:

"No less wonderful is it to me that some were convinced that Socrates corrupted the young men. In the first place, apart from what I have said, in control of his lusts and appetite he was the strongest of all men; further, in endurance of cold and heat and every kind of toil he was most resolute; and besides, his needs were so schooled to moderation that having very little he was yet very content. ... Furthermore, he himself never neglected his body and reproved such neglect in others. Thus overeating followed by overexertion he disapproved, but he approved of taking as much hard exercise as is agreeable to the soul; for the habit not only insured good health, but did not hamper the care of the soul. On the other hand, he disliked foppery and pretentiousness in the fashion of clothes or shoes or in behavior. Nor, again, did he encourage love of money in his associates."

Xenophon, Memorabilia 1.2

Many of us are familiar with the traditional mythological portrayals of the divine. In the upcoming series, we will explore deeper philosophical perspectives on the true essence and nature of the gods as understood by the Platonic tradition.

These descriptions are drawn from our book, The Flower of the Mind. A free PDF version is available for download [here].

A physical edition of the book will be released for purchase later this year.

"First, honor the immortal gods, as set down by the law, and revere the oath."

The Golden Verses of the Pythagoreans 1-2

"Come now, take courage, the race of men is divine."

The Golden Verses of the Pythagoreans 63

“There’s nothing better in the world, Cyrnus, than a father and mother who care for the holy law.” Theognis, Elegies 131–132

In The Republic (435e–441e.), Plato formulates the tripartite, or three-part, theory of the human soul. To explain the theory, he compares souls to nations. Nations, he says, consist of three major classes: the ruling class, the fighting class, and the working class. The ruling class is the government and is traditionally led by a king. The military and police comprise the fighting class. Merchants, farmers, and all those who work for a living make up the third class. Likewise, the human soul has three major “classes”: rational, spirited, and appetitive.

"Clothes that are made clean and bright become soiled again by use, but the soul being once purified from ignorance remains splendid forever." The Similitudes of Demophilus 25