Platonist's Views on Ritual and Magic

Platonist's views on ritual and magic are a topic of debate among scholars. While some argue that Platonist saw ritual practices as magical, others suggest that he saw them as distinct from magic. Platonist's writings refer to various terms related to magic, such as goateya and epodai, but he may not have considered these practices as theurgic or high-level activities. However, Platonist did believe in the power of ritual and its role in connecting with the divine. He wrote about the importance of prayer and how it can influence the celestial gods, causing changes on Earth. Platonist's explanations for the effectiveness of ritual involve concepts like cosmic sympathy and the influence of stars and planets. He also emphasized the importance of ritual purity and the appropriate use of words, intonation, and posture. While Platonist's understanding of magic and ritual may differ from later thinkers, his writings provide valuable insights into the theory and practice of ritual in ancient philosophy.