Perceiving the Divine: From Personhood to Plato’s Forms

During a transformative period across various cultures, significant philosophical and religious developments emerged, such as Daoism in China, Buddhism in India, and Zoroastrianism in Persia. This era necessitated the introduction of a term for the collective shifts in thought across the globe. A notable trend that surfaced during this period is the depersonalization and relativization of gods and spirits within paganism. Influenced by Plato's forms, these deities were stripped of anthropomorphic characteristics, presenting abstract concepts like justice rather than flawed deities. The concept of muses illustrates a nuanced approach, where inspiration can be recognized as a spiritual reality without direct personification. This depersonalization parallels developments in Buddhism, which emerged from Hinduism, where gods are not denied but rather reframed as principles contributing to spiritual growth. Both philosophical traditions, including the practices of Plato and Aristotle, sought to connect with a sense of the divine while minimizing human-like attributes, pointing towards a broader spiritual understanding that transcends personal characteristics.