Greek Popular Religion in Greek Philosophy

Jon D. Mikalson examines how Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, and other Greek philosophers described, interpreted, criticized, and utilized the components and concepts of the religion of the people of their time. Previous studies of religion in the philosophers have concentrated on their new theologies and their criticisms of the mythological gods of Greek poetry. Mikalson, however, investigates the philosophers' treatments of the religious beliefs and practices of their contemporaries-chiefly sacrifice, prayer, dedications, and divination. The major concepts involved are those of piety and impiety, and after a thorough analysis of the philosophical texts Mikalson offers a refined definition of Greek piety, dividing it into its two constituent elements of `proper respect' for the gods and `religious correctness'. He concludes with a demonstration of the benevolence of the gods in the philosophical tradition, linking it to the expectation of that benevolence evinced by popular religion. --Book Jacket.