The Rationalization of the Divine: Open Theorization and the Evolution of Philosophical Theology in Ancient Greek Thought

The Rationalization of the Divine investigates the transformation of ancient Greek thought from mythological religion to philosophical theology. Focusing on the Presocratics and culminating in Aristotle, the paper argues that Greek philosophers progressively reconceived the divine as an abstract, rational, and metaphysical first principle rather than an anthropomorphic deity. Special attention is given to Anaximander’s apeiron, Xenophanes’ critique of anthropomorphism, Heraclitus’ Logos, Sophistic skepticism, and Aristotle’s treatment of infinity and the Unmoved Mover. The study presents ancient Greek philosophy as a decisive turning point in the intellectual history of theology, metaphysics, and rational inquiry.