Plato and the Moralization of Daimonification

Book chapter

Litwa, Matthew. (2020). Plato and the Moralization of Daimonification. In Posthuman Transformation in Ancient Mediterranean Thought: Becoming Angels and Demons pp. 45 Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108921572.005
AuthorsLitwa, Matthew
Abstract

Adapting certain features of Empedoclean daimonology, Plato formulated a more rigorous theory of daimonification through virtue. He daimonified the soldiers of his ideal republic for their courage, and daimonified rulers (“guardians”) for their wisdom. In his Cratylus, Plato vouched for the daimonification of all people who were noble and wise. Plato’s Timaeus introduced the ultimate democratic principle of daimonification by identifying one’s guardian daimon with humanity’s higher consciousness (or nous).

KeywordsPlato; Republic; Cratylus; Timaeus; Socrates ; daimonion; Symposium; Phaedrus; guardian; Statesman
Page range45
56
Year01 Jan 2020
Book titlePosthuman Transformation in Ancient Mediterranean Thought: Becoming Angels and Demons
PublisherCambridge University Press
Place of publicationUnited Kingdom
Edition1st
ISBN9781108921572
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108921572.005
Web address (URL)https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/posthuman-transformation-in-ancient-mediterranean-thought/plato-and-the-moralization-of-daimonification/58BB8FD66123E37D7F8035A9C17C5DB0
Open accessPublished as non-open access
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Print2021
OnlineDec 2020
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Deposited10 Sep 2024
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© M. David Litwa 2021

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and to the provisions of relevant collective licensing agreements, no reproduction of any part may take place without the written permission of Cambridge University Press.

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