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Xenophanes’ Ouranian God in the Fourth Century

1998; Linguagem: Inglês

10.1093/oso/9780198238157.003.0001

0265-7651

John Palmer,

Historical, Religious, and Philosophical Studies

Abstract Aristotle’s dismissal of Xenophanes in the Metaphysics may give the impression that he had a rather low estimation of him. It will be useful to qualify this impression somewhat before proceeding to the substance of the view he attributes to Xenophanes. One needs to consider both the implications of Aristotle’s general dismissal of the Eleatics from his present enquiry and the specific criticisms he directs against the character of Xenophanes’ views. Aristotle’s expressed purpose in considering his predecessors’ views in Meta-physics A is to support his contention that the four kinds of cause or principle he has specified in the Physics are the only kinds.