Overview

Polytheism in Greek Philosophy challenges the perception of philosophy as a march of reason distancing itself from religion and spirituality, and most of all from polytheism. The ancient Greek philosophers were polytheists who worshiped the many Gods of their heritage, not as a concession to popular sentiment, nor as a transition to a more 'enlightened' monotheism or atheism, but with sincere piety, seeking to understand the blessedness of the Gods and how humans can share in it. They sought to illuminate the myths and rituals of their tradition with knowledge about the nature of Gods and the role of worship, beyond the tangible things we pray for, striving to understand what it means to be with the Gods. This book takes you on a journey through myths, instilling an appreciation for their wisdom, and the ideas by which philosophers conceptualized the Gods, such as unity and multiplicity, immortality, beauty, and cosmic order. It studies poets inspired by the Muses, tragedians writing for Dionysos, and thinkers who saw theoretical speculation as the highest form of devotion. It spans the Archaic, Classical, Hellenistic, and Late Antique periods, including the Platonists who confronted Christian hegemony and formulated a theological framework unsurpassed in its sophistication.

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Edward P. Butler received his PhD from the New School for Social Research for his dissertation ""The Metaphysics of Polytheism in Proclus"" (2004). Since then, he has pursued an ambitious research program in philosophy, theology, and the philosophy of religion, publishing in academic journals, edited volumes and devotionals. In addition to his theoretical work on polytheism and on diverse historical polytheisms, he is an advocate for the preservation, restoration and revival of polytheistic traditions around the globe. His recent works include The Way of the Gods: Polytheism(s) Around the World (2022) and The Way of Being: Polytheism and the Western Knowledge System (2023). More information about his work is available from his personal website, henadology.wordpress.com.

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