The Forms create the world, either through emanation, which is a kind of pantheistic concept, or, as suggested in the Timaeus, through the Demiurge, which is a "carpenter god".
OK then perhaps the forms where not the best example of what I was thinking of, although it does vaguely resemble the idea of the forms. Take instead an idealized perfect notion of some thing (again either about ethics/morality or about things in general, although I am focusing on ethics) that doesn't itself create the pale imitations of it.
As for Zoroastrianism, I would have to review to be sure about the external standard, but, if it exists, it nevertheless imposes itself through the good deity....
From my limited knowledge of the religion I think you are right. The good god (Ahuru Mazda) imposes (or tries to impose) the moral standard on others. I was more concerned with the idea of the external standard then in how it is imposed. I haven't seen anything that indicates Zoroastrianism explicitly talks about an external standard but if one god is good and one evil then it would seem there would have to be a standard.
Sorry that we got to this close to dinner time, but I have to go. Tomorrow, perhaps......
tomorrow then... |
