In this way, the divinity is the creator by which all the natural laws of Xenophanes’ cosmos obey (i.e. the great mind that puts natural processes into action), and, therefore, should not be many, nor should it commit “deeds which in men are matters of reproach and blame…(22B11),” as the poets describe in their epics. Xenophanes’ divine one’s mind should be pure, as it maintains the functions of the cosmos, and not prone to such devious, anthropomorphic thinking. In addition, given that it is the primary creator and maintainer of the cosmos, “whole he sees,....thinks, and….hears (22B24),” and it “remains in the same state, changing not at all (22B26).” Since the poets’ gods were born, directly intervene in human affairs, and have limited knowledge among themselves, these gods fail to describe the actual origin of the world and the laws of nature. On the other hand, Xenophanes’ divine one does, as it has always been and never will change; thus, it is the explanation of the creating force of the universe. Furthermore, since it can maintain the universe on its own, it has have all knowledge of all things simultaneously, and does not need to move around or intervene directly in human affairs (due to the grandeur of its task and greatness of its
In this way, the divinity is the creator by which all the natural laws of Xenophanes’ cosmos obey (i.e. the great mind that puts natural processes into action), and, therefore, should not be many, nor should it commit “deeds which in men are matters of reproach and blame…(22B11),” as the poets describe in their epics. Xenophanes’ divine one’s mind should be pure, as it maintains the functions of the cosmos, and not prone to such devious, anthropomorphic thinking. In addition, given that it is the primary creator and maintainer of the cosmos, “whole he sees,....thinks, and….hears (22B24),” and it “remains in the same state, changing not at all (22B26).” Since the poets’ gods were born, directly intervene in human affairs, and have limited knowledge among themselves, these gods fail to describe the actual origin of the world and the laws of nature. On the other hand, Xenophanes’ divine one does, as it has always been and never will change; thus, it is the explanation of the creating force of the universe. Furthermore, since it can maintain the universe on its own, it has have all knowledge of all things simultaneously, and does not need to move around or intervene directly in human affairs (due to the grandeur of its task and greatness of its