Divine Intelligence

Published on: Author: cbelisle@uoregon.edu

Heraclitus writes about how the LOGOS is the way to life. He presents the idea that the LOGOS is divine and powerful. He says that “For through all things come to be [or happen] in accordance with this LOGOS”. Heraclitus is presenting this LOGOS as Godly. Because of this, Heraclitus says that the human mind cannot comprehend its greatness. They will not be able to understand not only what it means in context but also what it means in their lives today.

Cicero, On the Nature of God, has a different idea of thinking. He brings up the idea that the world is God. Human control their own mind and ideas and that divine power comes from the mind. The more intelligent you are the more divine you are presented. This idea can be seen as looking at the world in a view that has the human race at the center. The goal in life is to elevate yourself and receive fame and fortune. This idea is presented through intelligence because of the way intelligence allows yourself to be worshiped by the community through your efforts to expand it.

 

Divine power in Hymn to Zeus is found through the idea that only Zeus contains the power. Even though the poet says that we “bear a likeness to God”, referring to how in Genesis the bible makes reference to how we were made in God’s image, they go on to explain how Zeus/God “directs universal reason” and “steers justice”. The poet then goes on to call Zeus Father showing the superiority that Zeus has over him. The intelligence idea pops up again by saying that living a good life leads to intelligence. This incorporates an idea of divine whether it’s through the idea of eternal knowledge (heaven), or worldly knowledge as a blessing (King Solomon).

 

Two of the readings mention the idea of something being divine and above all while Xenophon is different. In this reading we learn solely the idea that ungrateful humans should reflect what has been given to them because they have been well treated. This idea parallels with that of Heraclitus and the idea that humans are oblivious to much of the divine. Heraclitus, though, acknowledges the idea of a divine power where people understand the outer just. Cleanthes writes about the idea that people should live for his divine power being Zeus. He says “No deed is done on earth, god, without your offices”. No deed is done without your doing. Because of you I do this.