Abstract

GAMLATH, Isha. Allusions to henotheism and monotheism in cicero's book II of the nature of the gods. discus.filos [online]. 2009, vol.10, n.14, pp.27-42. ISSN 0124-6127.

In the light of a profound exegesis of Stoic ontological theology book II of Cicero's The Nature of the Gods is an inquiry into the nature of the divine in terms of its existence, functions and blessings conferred upon humankind. It provides substantial insight into his wider thesis of a theoretical justification of the essence of the divine conceptualized in the form of a Supreme Divine Being, the governing principle in a divinely articulated cosmos, as well as a host of subsidiary archetypes who eternally and simultaneously emanate its illumination. Despite the difficulty in detecting the extent and degrees of key issues related to Cicero's criteria of a theological truth, i.e. derivation of Platonic concepts, the influence of orthodox modifications of later Stoics and precursor of Neo Stoicism, Poseidonius and his methodological defense confirming Stoic doctrines there survives allusions to religious concepts coined not before the 17th century CE such as henotheism and monotheism. This paper explores the degrees of reflection of these religious concepts postulated within the theoretical framework of book II of The Nature of the Gods (2. 1-3-2.167-168) as well as his theological conceptualization of the divine.

Keywords : Cicero; henotheism; monotheism; Poseidonius; the divine; theological truth.

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