Timeaus Flashcards
Q: What is the role of the Demiurge in Timaeus?
A: The Demiurge is a divine Craftsman who imposes form onto pre-existing material, creating the universe with order and mathematical precision.
Q: How does Timaeus describe the cosmos?
A: The cosmos is a living being with a soul, crafted by the Demiurge using an eternal model and mathematical structures.
Q: What is the relationship between art and the cosmos in Timaeus?
A: Art imitates the cosmic order; it is not for irrational pleasure but to harmonize the soul with the rational structure of the universe.
Q: What are the two key metaphysical principles in Timaeus?
A: 1) “That which always is” (unchanging, grasped by reason) and 2) “That which becomes” (mutable, perceived by the senses).
Q: What are the fundamental elements and their geometric forms in Timaeus?
A: Fire (tetrahedron), Air (octahedron), Water (icosahedron), and Earth (cube), structured mathematically to form the physical world.
Q: What is the Receptacle in Timaeus?
A: The Receptacle is the “space” that holds all becoming things, providing a fixed state but having no form itself.
Q: How does Timaeus describe human beings?
A: Humans are microcosms of the universe, their intellect meant to align with the cosmic order, stabilizing their inner revolutions.
Q: What is the purpose of rhythm and harmony in Timaeus?
A: Harmony and rhythm are gifts from the Muses to align the soul’s internal movements with the rational order of the cosmos.
Q: What are the three parts of the soul in Timaeus?
A: 1) Rational (immortal, divine) 2) Spirited (mortal, linked to emotions) 3) Appetitive (mortal, linked to bodily desires).
Q: What is the goal of human life in Timaeus?
A: To align one’s intellect with the cosmic order, seek wisdom, and stabilize the soul’s internal revolutions for true happiness.
Q: How does Plato describe time in Timaeus?
A: Time is an image of eternity, structured mathematically to mirror the unchanging world of the Forms.
Q: How does the Demiurge use Necessity in the creation of the universe?
A: The Demiurge persuades Necessity to conform as much as possible to reason, shaping the universe within its given constraints.
Q: What is the significance of the four elements in the formation of the world?
A: The Demiurge arranges the elements into mathematical patterns, creating the physical world through structured necessity.
Q: Why is the human soul described as a divine gift in Timaeus?
A: The rational soul is given by the Demiurge as a guiding force, suspending humans between the heavens and earthly existence.
Q: How does Plato connect human learning with the cosmic order?
A: By studying the motions and harmonies of the universe, humans align their intellect with the divine order and restore their internal balance.
