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Pre-Cosmic Necessity in Plato's Timaeus
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Elizabeth Jelinek
Published/Copyright:
July 4, 2011
Abstract
One aim of this paper is to bring to the surface the problems with the traditional, non-literal interpretation of the pre-cosmos in the Timaeus. Contrary to this traditional interpretation, I show that Necessity is an ateleological cause capable of bringing about the events in the pre-cosmos, and that Intelligence is a teleological cause that produces effects only for the sake of maximizing the good. I conclude that there are no grounds for supposing that Intelligence is a causal force operating in the pre-cosmos, and that the account of the pre-cosmos should be taken literally: it is an account of the works of Necessity alone.
Published Online: 2011-07-04
Published in Print: 2011-July
© Walter de Gruyter 2011
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