English Dictionary

demiurge

/ˈdɛ.mɪ.ɜːdʒ/

noun

(Platonic philosophy) The (usually benevolent) being that created the universe out of primal matter.

The demiurge is the creator of the universe.

意味（1）

(Platonic philosophy) The (usually benevolent) being that created the universe out of primal matter.

A demiurge or craftsman god takes pre-existing matter and fashions it in light of the eternal Forms.

意味（2）

(Gnosticism) A (usually jealous or outright malevolent) being who is inferior to the supreme being, and sometimes seen as the creator of evil.

The Gnostic Demiurge then assumes a surprising likeness to Ahriman, the evil counter-creator of Ormuzd in Mazdean philosophy. The character of the Gnostic Demiurge became still more complicated when in some systems he was identified with Jehovah, the God of the Jews or of the Old Testament, and was brought in opposition to Christ of the New Testament, the Only-Begotten Son of the Supreme and Good God.

意味（3）

(figuratively) Something (such as an idea, individual or institution) conceived as an autonomous creative force or decisive power.

意味（4）

(historical, Ancient Greece) The title of a magistrate in a number of states of Ancient Greece, and in the city states (poleis) of the Achaean League.

The demiurgi were next in power to the prætor, and therefore ſtiled by Polybius and Livy, the ſupreme magiſtrates of the Achæans. They were ten in number, choſen by the general aſſembly from among the moſt eminent men of the whole league for prudence, equity, and experience. It was their office to aſſiſt, with their advice, the prætor, who was to ſay nothing before the aſſembly, but what had been previouſly approved of by the major part of the demiurgi.