The Presocratics and the Supernatural : Magic, Philosophy and Science in Early Greece

"This book examines the relationship between magic, philosophy and the investigation of nature in presocratic Greece. Did the presocratic thinkers, often praised for their rejection of the supernatural, still believe in gods and the divine and the efficacy of magical practices? Did they use animism, astrology, numerology and mysticism in their explanations of the world? This book analyses the evidence in detail and argues that we need to look at each of these beliefs in context"--Publisher's description. FC Half title Title Copyright Dedication Contents Abbreviations Preface 1 Introduction 2 Plato and Aristotle 3 The Milesian Philosophers 4 The Hippocratic On the Sacred Disease 5 The Hippocratic On Regimen 6 Xenophanes and Others: More Natural Explanation 7 Pythagoras and the Early Pythagoreans 8 The Early P ythagoreans and Numerology 9 Empedocles 10 Leucippus and Democritus 11 Conclusion Notes Bibliography Index Locorum Index of Names General Index Introduction Natural and Supernatural The Literary and Philosophical Background Magic and Its Practice in Presocratic Greece Milesian Pantheism Xenophanes and the Drive Towards a Unitary God The Hippocratics and the Sacred Disease Empedocles The Pythagoreans Leucippus and Democritus Conclusion Notes Bibliography Index This book explores evidence of astrology, mysticism and other elements of the supernatural in presocratic Greek thought.