Onatas (philosopher)

Onatas
Onatas
Ὀνάτας
Born	c. 5th century BCE; Croton or Tarentum
Era	Ancient philosophy
Region	Ancient Greek philosophy
School	Pythagoreanism

Onatas (Ancient Greek: Ὀνάτας) was a Pythagorean philosopher who lived in or around the 5th century BC,^[1] possibly in either Croton^[2] or Tarentum^[3] in Magna Graecia. Nothing more is known about his life, but he is credited by Stobaeus as the author of a pseudonymous Neo-Pythagorean work from the 1st century BC or AD entitled On God and the Divine (Ancient Greek: Περὶ θεοῦ καὶ θείου), which Stobaeus excerpts a long passage from.^[4] The author of the passage ("Pseudo-Onatas") argues against the belief in a single deity, on the basis that the universe itself is not God but only divine,^[5] but that God is a governing part of the universe.^[6] He argues that since there are many "powers" in the universe, therefore they must belong to different gods.^[7] Pseudo-Onatas also claimed that the earthy mixture of the body defiles the purity of the soul.^[8]

Notes

^ Trevor Curnow, (2006), The philosophers of the ancient world: an A to Z guide, page 201
^ Iamblichus, Vit. Pyth. 267
^ Joannes Laurentius Lydus, De Mens. 2. 12
^ Stobaeus, i. 1. 39
^ P. L. Reynolds, "The Essence, Power and Presence of God" in Édouard Jeauneau, Haijo Jan Westra, (1992), From Athens to Chartres: neoplatonism and medieval thought, page 355. BRILL
^ Documenti e studi sulla tradizione filosofica medievale, (1999), Volume 10, page 3. Società internazionale per lo studio del Medioevo latino, Centro italiano di studi sull'alto Medioevo.
^ James M. Reese, (1970), Hellenistic influence on the Book of Wisdom and its consequences, page 56. Pontificium Institutum Biblicum
^ James M. Reese, (1970), Hellenistic influence on the Book of Wisdom and its consequences, page 87. Pontificium Institutum Biblicum

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[1] Trevor Curnow, (2006), The philosophers of the ancient world: an A to Z guide, page 201

[2] Iamblichus, Vit. Pyth. 267

[3] Joannes Laurentius Lydus, De Mens. 2. 12

[4] Stobaeus, i. 1. 39

[5] P. L. Reynolds, "The Essence, Power and Presence of God" in Édouard Jeauneau, Haijo Jan Westra, (1992), From Athens to Chartres: neoplatonism and medieval thought, page 355. BRILL

[6] Documenti e studi sulla tradizione filosofica medievale, (1999), Volume 10, page 3. Società internazionale per lo studio del Medioevo latino, Centro italiano di studi sull'alto Medioevo.

[7] James M. Reese, (1970), Hellenistic influence on the Book of Wisdom and its consequences, page 56. Pontificium Institutum Biblicum

[8] James M. Reese, (1970), Hellenistic influence on the Book of Wisdom and its consequences, page 87. Pontificium Institutum Biblicum

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Onatas
Ὀνάτας
Born	c. 5th century BCE Croton or Tarentum

Era	Ancient philosophy
Region	Ancient Greek philosophy
School	Pythagoreanism