Porphyry’s Gods: The Metaphysics and Physics of Divinity
Oct 13, 2021
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Exploring Porphyry's universe crawling with gods and daimones, discussing metempsychosis and divine possession. Understanding Porphyry's metaphysics and physics of divinity, including the role of Zeus and connection to fate. Exploring the concept of the soul descending into the body and the night sky as the afterlife. Beliefs on reincarnation, divine judgment, and philosophy in the afterlife. Understanding possession, divine intervention, and salvation through union with the gods. Analyzing the separation of body and soul in death and exploring the relationship between the body and soul.
Porphyry's universe is teeming with gods, offering a captivating environment for exploration.
Porphyry's metaphysics delves into the names, ranks, and serial numbers of the gods and other divine beings encountered during the philosophic ascent.
Deep dives
Porphyry's Universe of Divinities
Porphyry's universe is filled with a rich fauna of divinities of various kinds. From the transcendent One to the noetic gods, Porphyry explores the realms of higher beings and consciousness that philosophers can journey to and be transformed by. Porphyry's universe is teeming with gods and offers a captivating environment for exploration.
The Metaphysical Roots of Reality
Porphyry posits the One as the principle at the root of all reality, describing it as the first and transcendent god. This divine principle, although transcendent, is present throughout the universe, with powers distributed at different levels and in different ways. Porphyry's metaphysics delves into the names, ranks, and serial numbers of the gods and other divine beings encountered during the philosophic ascent.
Divine Dunamis and the Ontological Hierarchy
Porphyry's universe is structured by the powers of divine dunamis, which are invisible and personify the laws of physics. These powers emanate from the transcendent One, creating complex hierarchies and interweaving webs of divinities. The universe, according to Porphyry, is divinized at all levels, with even the individual elements of the cosmos possessing divine dunamis. The intricate system of divine dunamis provides a fascinating and enchanting perspective of the physical world.
Knocking on the Doors of the Gods
Porphyry explores various ways in which humans can interact with the gods. These include divinatory oracles, divine possession or enthusiasm, and the practices of theurgical rituals. Porphyry emphasizes the importance of approaching the gods through philosophical ascent, purification of the self from bodily attachments, and the pursuit of union with the noetic reality. Through these practices, one can strive towards salvation and experience the profound transformation of the soul.
We discuss the universe of Porphyry, which is crawling with gods, powers, and daimones, and some of the ways a human being might expect to navigate such a place. The episode features a long discursus on the theory of metempsychosis and a brief discursus on divine possession.
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