Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2001. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The analysis of the system of speculative thought of Plato and Zoroaster, as found in
Plato's Timaeus and Zoroaster's Gathas, seeks to compare a well-known philosophy,
that of Plato, to a lesser known and often misunderstood system of speculative
thought within a religion, namely Zoroastrianism. The purpose of such a comparison
is to show that the speculative thought found in religion is often comparable to
philosophy, as is the case in the doctrines postulated in the Gathas. It serves to
illuminate the philosophy within a lesser known religion (Zoroastrianism) by
comparing it to a well-known philosophy (that of Plato), and in doing so, to cast new
light on both.
The comparison of Plato and Zoroaster has been proposed and sometimes executed by
other scholars as well. The main problem in these other comparisons, thus far, has
been the fact that no historical contact or definite doctrinal influence of Zoroaster on
Plato has been or is likely to be established. Though Plato might well have been
familiar with Zoroastrian doctrines, this cannot be satisfactorily proven. This study
does not depend on historical contact or doctrinal influence (though the possibility of
the latter has been discussed), but compares the two doctrines independent of
historical factors and is based solely on the striking similarities between these two
systems of thought.
This study has focussed on some of the basic concepts within the two doctrines, such
as creation, the soul, and dualism. In this study I have emphasised the philosophical
aspect of Zoroastrianism, though it is classified as a religion, because I believe that
much of what has been classified as religion also incorporates speculative thought that
can be analysed separately, and as a system of speculative thought it is comparable to
other traditions of speculative thought, such as Greek philosophy. This comparison
therefore seeks to counteract some of the assumptions about religions, and how they
are studied, by focusing on the philosophical basis underlying the doctrines in the
Zoroastrian religion.
Another aspect to the comparison is a focus on the similarities of doctrine originating
in two cultures previously held to be vastly different, namely Persian and Greek. There has previously been a tendency to consider the cultures of the classical and the
ancient Near Eastern world as separate and completely distinct from each other, and
in doing so, ignoring important historical contact. Although the historical interaction
between these two areas has received increased attention, comparative investigations
have emphasised the differences between the cultures of these regions, although
similarities do abound and the comparison of analogous aspects of the various
cultures could prove valuable to the study of the ancient world. Recognition of the
larger context within which the various cultures of the ancient world operated can
only add to the understanding of the ancient world, and pave the way for reassessing
the traditions and world-views of various cultures. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die analise van die spekulatiewe denkstelsels van Plato en Zoroaster, soos uitgelê in
Plato se Timaeus en Zoroaster se Gathas, beoog om 'n bekende filosofie te vergelyk
met 'n minder bekende en dikwels wangeïnterpreteerde spekulatiewe denkstelsel
binne 'n religie, naamlik Zoroastrisme. Die doel van so 'n vergelyking is om te
demonstreer dat die spekulatiewe denkstelsel wat binne 'n religie gevind kan word
dikwels vergelykbaar is met 'n filosofie, soos die geval is met die
leerstellings/denkstelsels wat uitgelê word in die Gathas. Dit dien om die filosofiese
binne 'n relatief onbekende religie (Zoroastrisme) uit te lig deur dit te vergelyk met 'n
bekende filosofie (dié van Plato), en in die proses is dit moontlik dat daar nuwe lig
gewerp kan word op albei.
Die vergelyking tussen Plato en Zoroaster is al deur verskeie academici voorgestel en
soms uitgevoer. Die hoofprobleem in al die vorige vergelykings is dat daar tot dusver
by Zoroaster geen historiese kontak met of invloed op die leerstellings van Plato
vasgestel kon word nie. Alhoewel Plato heel moontlik bekend kon gewees het met
Zoroaster se leerstellings, kan dit nie bo alle twyfel bewys word nie. Hierdie studie
voorveronderstel geen historiese kontak tussen of beïnvloeding deur die leerstellings
van Zoroaster en Plato nie (hoewel die moontlikheid van laasgenoemde bespreek
word). Dit is 'n vergelyking wat slegs gemotiveer is deur die treffende ooreenkomste
tussen hierdie twee denkstelsels.
My studie fokus op 'n aantal basiese konsepte binne die twee leerstellings, soos
skepping, die siel, en dualisme. Ten spyte van die feit dat Zoroastrisme as 'n religie
geklassifiseer word, word die filosofiese aspek van Zoroastrisme in hierdie studie
beklemtoon, want ek glo dat baie sisteme wat as religieë geklassifiseer word
spekulatiewe denke inkorporeer wat onafhanklik van die religie self as 'n
spekulatiewe denkstelsel soos filosofie geanaliseer kan word, en verder ook vergelyk
kan word met ander tradisies van spekulatiewe denkstelsels, soos die oud-Griekse
filosofie. Hierdie vergelyking poog om die aannames oor religieë, insluitend
aannames oor hoe religieë bestudeer moet word, teen te werk deur te fokus op die
onderliggende filosofiese basis in die leerstellings van Zoroastrisme. 'n Ander aspek van die vergelyking is 'n fokus op die ooreenkomste tussen
leerstellings wat hul oorsprong het in twee kulture (die Persiese en Griekse
onderskeidelik) wat voorheen as heeltemal uiteenlopend en verskillend beskou is, en
in die proses is die belangrike historiese kontak geïgnoreer. Alhoewel die historiese
interaksie tussen die twee areas toenemend aandag geniet, word die kulturele verskille
beklemtoon ten spyte van die feit dat daar veelvuldige ooreenkomste is en dat 'n
vergelyking van ooreenkomste tussen verskeie kulture baie waardevol kan wees vir
die studie van die antieke wêreld. 'n Waardering van die wyer konteks waarbinne die
verskeie kulture van die antieke wêreld gefunksioneer het, kan net bydra tot 'n beter
begrip van die antieke wêreld en die weg baan vir 'n herevaluering van die tradisies
en wêreldbeskouings van die betrokke kulture.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/52062 |
| Date | 12 1900 |
| Creators | Viviers, D. S. (Daniele Siobhan) |
| Contributors | Cook, J., Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences. Dept. of Ancient Studies . |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | en_ZA |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 209 p. |
| Rights | Stellenbosch University |
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