EBOOK Greek Popular Religion in Greek Philosophy

Jon D. Mikalson examines how Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, and other Greek        philosophers described, interpreted, criticized, and utilized the components and        concepts of the religion of the people of their time - practices such as sacrifice,        prayer, dedications, and divination. The chief concepts involved are those of piety        and impiety, and after a thorough analysis of the philosophical texts Mikalson        offers a refined definition of Greek piety, dividing it into its two        constituentelements of `proper respect' for the gods and `religious correctness'. He        concludes with a demonstration of the benevolence of the gods in the philosophical        tradition, linking it to the expectation of that benevolence evinced by popular        religion.