Abstract
This essay argues the Stoics are rightly regarded as pantheists. Their view differs from many forms of pantheism by accepting the notion of a personal god who exercises divine providence. Moreover, Stoic pantheism is utterly inimical to a deep ecology ethic. I argue that these features are nonetheless consistent with the claim that they are pantheists. The essay also considers the arguments offered by the Stoics. They thought that their pantheistic conclusion was an extension of the best science of their day. Some of their most interesting arguments are thusa posteriori
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
Works Cited
Algra, K. (1999).The Cambridge history of Hellenistic philosophy. Cambridge, U.K.; New York, Cambridge University Press.
Annas, J. (1992).Hellenistic philosophy of mind. Berkeley, University of California Press.
Castelo, C. V. (1996). “Reflections on Stoic logocentrism”.Environmental Ethics 18: 291–6.
Cheney, J. (1989). “The Neo-Stoicism of Radical Environmentalism”.Environmental Ethics 11: 113–25.
Dragona Monachou, M. (1972).The Stoic arguments for the existence and providence of the gods. Athens, National and Capodistrain University of Athens.
Forrest, P. (1996).God without the Supernatural: A Defence of Scientific Theism. Ithaca and London, Cornell University Press.
Forrest, P. (1997). “Pantheism and Science.”Monist 80(2): 307–319.
Freudenthal, G. (1995).Aristotle’s Theory of Material Substance: heat and pneuma, form and soul. Oxford, Clarendon Press.
Hadot, P. (1998).The Inner Citadel: the mediatations of Marcus Aurelius. Cambridge Mass. and London, Harvard University Press.
Hahm, D. (1977).The Origins of Stoic Cosmology. Columbus, Ohio State University Press.
Holland, A. (1997). Fortitude and Tragedy: the prospects for a Stoic environmentalism.The Greeks and the Environment L. Westra and T. Robinson (eds.). New York, Rowman and Littlefield: 151–66.
Levine, M. (1994a).Pantheism: A Non-Theistic Concept of Diety. London, Routledge.
Levine, M. P. (1994b). “Pantheism, Ethics and Ecology.”Environmental Values 3(2): 121–138.
Lloyd, A. C. (1976). “The Principle That the Cause Is Greater Than Its Effect.”Phronesis 21: 146–156.
Long, A. A. (1985). “The Stoics on World-Conflagration and Everlasting Recurrence.”Southern Journal of Philosophy SUPP 23: 13–37.
Long, A. A. and D. N. Sedley (1987).The Hellenistic philosophers. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press.
MacIntyre, A. (1967). Pantheism.Encyclopedia of Philosophy. P. Edwards (ed). New York, Macmillan and Free Press. 5: 31–35.
Nussbaum, M. C. (1978).Aristotle’s De Motu Animalium: text with translation, commentary and interpretive essays. Princeton, Princeton University Press.
Oppy, G. (1997). “Pantheism, Quantification and Mereology.”Monist 80(2): 320–336.
Reydams-Schils, G. (1999).Demiurge and Providence: Stoic and Platonist readings of Plato’s Timaeus. Turnhout, Bepols.
Schofield, M. (1983). “The Syllogisms of Zeno of Citium”.Phronesis 28: 31–58.
Sedley D. N. (1982). “The Stoic Criterion of Identity”.Phronesis 27: 255–74.
Sorabji, R. (1988).Matter, Space and Motion: theories in antiquity and their sequel. London, Duckworth.
Stevens, W. (1994). “Stoic Naturalism, Rationalism and Ecology”.Environmental Ethics 16: 275–86.
Von Staden, H. (2000). ‘Body, Soul, and Nerves: Epicurus, Herophilus, Erasistratus, the Stoics, and Galen’, inPsyche and Soma: Physicians and Metaphysicians on the Mind Body Problem from Antiquity to Enlightenment. J. P. Wright (ed). Oxford, Clarendon Press.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Baltzly, D. Stoic pantheism. SOPHIA 42, 3–33 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02782397
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02782397