Polytheism in Greek Philosophy-III
Welcome to the third module of our journey through “Polytheism in Greek Philosophy”. Building upon the foundation of the first module—where we delved into the philosophy within Hellenic theology through the mythological poets, particularly focusing on Zeus’s regime and the “Olympian project”—and the second, which explored how classical Greek philosophers embraced and propelled the Olympian project, engaging in philosophy as a form of polytheist devotion, we now venture into the philosophers of Late Antiquity, who for the first time found themselves confronting monotheism, the doctrine which, as Plotinus said, “contracts the divine into one”.
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9 November 2024 - 15 February 2025
9:00 PM -10:00 PM IST
Every Saturday
Introduction
Monotheism, which began as an ideology on the fringe, became a force in society after its imposition as the state religion of the Roman Empire, but its intellectual challenge was met by a revived, systematic Platonism with the principle of individuation and multiplicity at its core, a philosophy of radical polytheism. For three centuries, Platonists articulated a polytheistic philosophy unsurpassed in power and subtlety, until they were silenced by the empire’s banning of public teaching by non-Christians in 529 CE. Through the works of the great philosophers Plotinus, Porphyry, Iamblichus, Proclus and Damascius, this module rediscovers the pinnacle of Greek philosophy as the successful theorizing of the multiplicity of Gods without reducing Them to one, an integration of diversity and uniqueness with reason that speaks to us today as urgently as it did 1,500 years ago.
Course Objectives
This course carries forward the plan for the series by investigating the nature of ancient Greek philosophy, and specifically the doctrines of the Platonic philosophers of Late Antiquity, in light of the polytheism to which these thinkers were committed. This course is designed to stand on its own, making it accessible to those who have not participated in the prior two modules.
Course Outcomes
By the end of this course, students will have a solid understanding of Neoplatonic metaphysics and its relationship to the multinational polytheism of the Greek-speaking world of Late Antiquity.
Course Syllabus
- Plotinus: The Critique of Monotheism and the Revival of Platonic Henology
- Porphyry: First Attempts at an Integrated Multinational Polytheism
- Iamblichus: Theurgy and the Overcoming of the Translational Paradigm
- Proclus: The Doctrine of Divine Henads
- Damascius: The Anarchic Totality
Reading List
Selected works of Plotinus, Porphyry, Iamblichus, Proclus and Damascus
Course Features
- Live Interactive Sessions: Participate in live lectures and discussions with ample opportunities for Q&A.
- Flexible Learning: Access class recordings and materials at your convenience for asynchronous learning.
- Certificate of Completion: Demonstrate your new knowledge with a certificate upon successfully completing the course.
Faculty
Dr. Edward P Butler
Dr. Edward P Butler is the Director of INDICA Center for Polytheism Studies.
He received his doctorate in Philosophy from the New School for Social Research, New York City, 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 regularly in academic journals, edited volumes and devotionals.
His areas of specialization include ancient Platonism, ancient Greek theology, ancient Egyptian theology, and the polytheistic philosophy of religion in general. In addition to his theoretical work on polytheism, he has been a practicing devotional polytheist his entire adult life, and is an advocate for the preservation, restoration and revival of polytheistic traditions around the globe.