Sur La "Theologie" De Xenophane

Babut, Daniel

1974

1974

journalArticle

A study of fragments 23-26 by xenophanes shows that these are in no way different from those in which the author criticizes traditional beliefs (b 11-17), and that the distinction between a purely critical and a constructive phase of his religious thought is entirely unfounded. this conclusion is confirmed by the judgements of both aristotle and theophrastus, and by the testimony of xenophanes himself in b34, 1-2. his "theology" is only the reverse side of his criticism of traditional religion; it has the same scope as the other expressions of his thought. he can be considered a polemic philosopher, essentially in opposition to the ideas of his day.