Originally posted by Digi
Yer gonna need to cite some sources. This is about as vague as possible. Should we just have a conversation based on phrases that start with "well I heard..."?
look at this:
Several ancient Greek atomists proposed a plurality of universes. For example, here is Democritus:
In some worlds there is no Sun and Moon, in others they are larger than in our world, and in others more numerous. In some parts there are more worlds, in others fewer (…); in some parts they are arising, in others failing. There are some worlds devoid of living creatures or plants or any moisture.
another one:
We are told that Anaximander believed there were "innumerable worlds in the Boundless,"69 and we have to decide between the interpretation that, though all the worlds are perishable, there are an unlimited number of them in existence at the same time, and Zeller's view that a new world never comes into existence till the old one has passed away, so that there is never more than one world at a time. As this point is of fundamental importance, it will be necessary to examine the evidence carefully.
another one:
Velleius say, "that there were gods who came into being, rising and passing away at long intervals, and that these were the innumerable worlds";76
aslo animaxander believed that there are infinte worlds or heavens:
"innumerable heavens" were gods
Answer:
Originally posted by thorthor
Several ancient Greek atomists proposed a plurality of universes. For example, here is Democritus:
In some worlds there is no Sun and Moon, in others they are larger than in our world, and in others more numerous. In some parts there are more worlds, in others fewer (…); in some parts they are arising, in others failing. There are some worlds devoid of living creatures or plants or any moisture.
Not all ancient Greeks were atomists and not even all atomists believed in multiple worlds, the only reason we care about them is because we use a word they used and concept they had turned out to sort of be accurate. They were not the authors of Greek myth anyway.
Originally posted by thorthor
We are told that Anaximander believed there were "innumerable worlds in the Boundless,"69 and we have to decide between the interpretation that, though all the worlds are perishable, there are an unlimited number of them in existence at the same time, and Zeller's view that a new world never comes into existence till the old one has passed away, so that there is never more than one world at a time. As this point is of fundamental importance, it will be necessary to examine the evidence carefully.another one:
Velleius say, "that there were gods who came into being, rising and passing away at long intervals, and that these were the innumerable worlds";76
aslo animaxander believed that there are infinte worlds or heavens:
"innumerable heavens" were gods
Anaximander and Velleius were not the be all and end all of Greek speculation in this area, thinkers like Plato believed in a single world. Again, Anaximander and Velleius did not write Greek mythology.
Originally posted by Symmetric Chaos
Not all ancient Greeks were atomists and not even all atomists believed in multiple worlds, the only reason we care about them is because we use a word they used and concept they had turned out to sort of be accurate. They were not the authors of Greek myth anyway.Anaximander and Velleius were not the be all and end all of Greek speculation in this area, thinkers like Plato believed in a single world. Again, Anaximander and Velleius did not write Greek mythology.
yeah but they believed in them so to them it was real and i think plato wrote some myths
Originally posted by thorthor
yeah but they believed in them so to them it was real
You asked about Greek mythology not what a few philosophers though. For example just because Ray Kurzweil believes the Singularity will happen doesn't mean that Game of Thrones is going to end that way. The myths are the myths, the philosophers are the philosophers.
Originally posted by thorthor
and i think plato wrote some myths
He dialogues, stories about philosophers having conversations. They are not part of Greek mythology although a few are part of modern mythology.
Originally posted by thorthor
nope he did believe in many universes and google plato's orphic universe
Plato wasn't an Orphist. He seems to have actively disliked them.
I'm not an expert on Orphism, however, so why do you say they believed in multiple universes? Citations along with any quotes so I can see who you're quoting.
Originally posted by Symmetric Chaos
Plato wasn't an Orphist. He seems to have actively disliked them.I'm not an expert on Orphism, however, so why do you say they believed in multiple universes? Citations along with any quotes so I can see who you're quoting.
plato believed in parallel universes, and google plato's orphic universe and you can see for yourself