Xenophanes (c.570–475 BC)
Greek philosopher and native of the city of Colophon. Xenophanes had a particular
gripe against the anthropomorphism of popular religion. Why, he asked, did
people suppose their gods to be human in appearance? Wouldn't cows, if they
were inclined to pray, worship bovine gods? Xenophanes urged that people
should stop assuming they were the center of cosmic attention or that either
they or the Earth were unique. To him the idea of unlimited worlds was irresistibly
attractive, and he added a new possibility – that the Moon might support
life (see Moon, life on).
Related entry
• ancient philosophy,
related to the possibility of extraterrestrial life
•
Greek astronomy
Related
category
• PHILOSOPHY
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