Theòs Anaítios: a commentary on Plato's theodicy in light of the Timaeus

Authors

  • Jacqueline Bergamini Maretto Doutoranda em Filosofia pela Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais – UFMG

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14195/1984-249X_12_4

Keywords:

theòs anaítios, intelligence (nous), soul (psyché), cause, responsibility (aitia, aition), proportion (symmetría)

Abstract

This article aims to approach platonic theodicy, synthesized by the renowed expression theòs anaítios, in light of he genesis of sensible world described by Plato in Timeu. The meaning of this expression in Plato is clear: it is soul’s (psyché), not god’s the responsibility to choose a kind of life and its consequences. But, what is this, the soul? We start with that classic definition of soul in Plato, as moving principle and site of knowledge, but will not stop in it. What would be soul’s origins? Based upon cosmogony refered to in Timeu, we shall attempt to evidence that formation and autonomy of human soul are affected by, or determined by demiurgical conditions: by existence of alogic precosmic elements, by interference in the regularity of cosmic cycles of the World Soul, by mimetic activity of secondary gods; and, above all, by the presence of an intelligent design (nous) which operates in a teleological manner. Timeu’s reading, besides explaining by cosmology the question of divine justice in Plato, will present an admirable ethical prototype, based upon notions of order and proportion to guide human choices, reinvigorating the platonic presuppo-sition of the unavoidable responsibility that human being has about his fate.

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References

PLATON. (1983-1995) Oeuvres Complètes, Paris, PUF/Les Belles Lettres.PLATON. (2008) La Repubblica (Politeia), a cura di Mario Vegetti, texto greco a fronte. Milano BUR.PLATON. (1956) Les Lois. Texte établi et traduit par A. Diés. Tome X, texte bílingue grecque-français. Paris, Les Belles Lettres.PLATON. (2011) Timée, Critias. Texte établi et traduit par Albert Rivaud, texte bílingue grecque-françaisParis, Belles Lettres.PLATON. (2002) Alcibiade. Texte établi et traduit par Maurice Croiset. Introduction et notes de Marie-Laurence Desclos, texte bílingue grecque-français. Paris, Les Belles Lettres, 2002.Outras obras e artigosBRISSON, L. (1994) Le même et l’autre dans la structure ontologique du Timée de Platon. Sankt Augustin, Academia Verlag.BRISSON, L.; MACE, A. (2011) O mundo e os corpos. In: BRISSON, L. & FRONTERROTA, F. Platão, Leituras, São Paulo, Loyola, p.101-113.CARONE, G. R. (2008) A cosmologia de Platão e suas dimensões éticas. São Paulo, Loyola. CHERNISS, H. (1977) The sources of evil according to Plato (1954), repris dans Selected papers, Leiden (Brill), p.253-260. DODDS, E. R. (2002) The greeks and the irrational. University of California Press. FERRARI, F. (2011) Platão e a teoria dos princípios. In: BRISSON, L. & FRONTERROTA, F. Platão, Leituras, São Paulo, Loyola, p.123-132.HALLIAELL, F. S. (1993) Plato: Republic 10. Wilshire, British Library.LANZI, S. (2000) La teodicea di Platone. In: Theòs anaítios: Storia della teodicea da Omero ad Agostino. Roma, Il Calamo.LEDBETTER, G. M. (1999) Reasons and Causes in Plato: Distinction between aitia and aition, Ancient Philosophy, p. 255-265.LIMA VAZ, H.C. (2011) Destino e Liberdade. In: Platônica, Escritos de Filosofia VIII, São Paulo, Loyola.PETERS, F. E., (1974) Termos Filosóficos Gregos: um léxico histórico. Lisboa: Calouste-Gulbekian.PLOTINO, (1996) Eneadas III-IV (T2). Introducciones, traducciones y notas de Jesús Igal. Madrid, Gedros.REALE, G. (1997) Para uma nova interpretação de Platão. São Paulo, Loyola.SEDLEY, David, (1998) Platonic Causes, Phronesis, 43: 114-132TEISSERENC, F. (2010) Langage et image dans l’oeuvre de Platon. Paris, Vrin.WOLSDORF, D. (2005) Aítion and Aítia in Plato. Ancient Philosophy 25, Mathesis Publication, p. 341-348.

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Published

2025-11-29

How to Cite

Maretto, J. B. (2025). Theòs Anaítios: a commentary on Plato’s theodicy in light of the Timaeus. Revista Archai, (12), 31. https://doi.org/10.14195/1984-249X_12_4

Issue

No. 12 (2014): No. 12 (2014): Revista Archai nº12 (January, 2014)

Section

Articles

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Copyright (c) 2025 Jacqueline Bergamini Maretto

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