The Religion of Nature Delineated · Characters
Character guide
Key figures in The Religion of Nature Delineated by William Wollaston.
A Man
major
Also known as a man, himself
Central figure in the philosophical discourse on moral good and evil.
Unknown
major
Also known as Unknown, myself
Narrator or focal character reflecting on nature and reason.
Cicero
supporting
Also known as Cicero
Roman philosopher and statesman cited extensively on moral philosophy.
Plato
supporting
Also known as Plato
Greek philosopher whose ideas on virtue and the soul are discussed.
Aristotle
supporting
Also known as Aristotle
Greek philosopher referenced on ethics and natural law.
Seneca
supporting
Also known as Seneca
Stoic philosopher quoted on happiness and reason.
Epicurus
supporting
Also known as Epicurus
Greek philosopher whose views on pleasure are examined.
Socrates
minor
Also known as Socrates
Classical Greek philosopher referenced in discussions of virtue.
Plutarch
minor
Also known as Plutarch, Pseudo-Plutarch
Greek biographer and philosopher cited on moral examples.
Maimonides
minor
Also known as Maimonides
Medieval Jewish philosopher referenced on divine attributes.
Isaac Abravanel
minor
Also known as Isaac, Abravanel
Jewish scholar and commentator cited in theological discussions.
Alexander Altmann
minor
Also known as Alexander
Modern scholar referenced on Jewish philosophy.
Diogenes Laërtius
minor
Also known as Diogenes
Biographer of Greek philosophers quoted on their lives.
Homer
minor
Also known as Homer
Ancient Greek poet cited for moral allegories.
Pliny the Elder
minor
Also known as Pliny, Pliny the Younger
Roman naturalist referenced on natural phenomena.
Philo Judaeus
minor
Also known as Philo
Hellenistic Jewish philosopher cited on divine wisdom.
Lucretius
minor
Also known as Lucretius
Roman poet and philosopher quoted on atomism and nature.
Horace
minor
Also known as Horace
Roman poet cited on moral maxims.
Zeno of Citium
minor
Also known as Zeno
Founder of Stoicism referenced on virtue and reason.
William Wollaston
supporting
Also known as Wollaston
English philosopher whose work is the basis of this book.
Joseph Albo
minor
Also known as Albo
Jewish philosopher cited on principles of faith.
Elijah ben Moses de Vidas
minor
Also known as Moses, Rabbi Elijah ben Moses de Vidas
Kabbalistic author referenced on moral perfection.
Plotinus
minor
Also known as Plotinus
Neoplatonic philosopher cited on the One and emanation.
Julius Caesar
minor
Also known as Caesar, Julian
Roman general and dictator mentioned in historical examples.
Herodotus
minor
Also known as Herodotus
Greek historian cited on customs and moral tales.
Valerius Maximus
minor
Also known as Valerius Maximus
Roman author of moral anecdotes quoted for examples.
John Chrysostom
minor
Also known as Chrysostom
Church Father cited on moral and theological points.
St. Jerome
minor
Also known as Jerome
Biblical scholar and translator referenced in exegesis.
Euripides
minor
Also known as Euripides
Greek tragedian quoted on human passions and fate.
Virgil
minor
Also known as Virgil
Roman poet cited on duty and destiny.
Sophocles
minor
Also known as Sophocles
Greek playwright referenced on moral dilemmas.
Anaxarchus
minor
Also known as Anaxarchus
Greek philosopher known for his indifference to pain.
Basil of Caesarea
minor
Also known as Basil, St. Basil
Church Father cited on creation and morality.
Hierocles
minor
Also known as Hierocles
Stoic philosopher quoted on family duties.
Josephus
minor
Also known as Josephus
Jewish historian referenced on biblical history.
Epictetus
minor
Also known as Epictetus
Stoic philosopher cited on inner freedom.
Marcus Aurelius
minor
Also known as Marcus Aurelius
Roman emperor and Stoic philosopher quoted on virtue.
Lucian
minor
Also known as Lucian
Greek satirist cited on religious beliefs.
Aristippus
minor
Also known as Aristippus
Cyrenaic philosopher referenced on pleasure ethics.
Maximus Tyrius
minor
Also known as Maximus Tyrius
Greek philosopher cited on divine nature.
Eliezer Azkari
minor
Also known as Rabbi Eliezer Azkari
Jewish mystic and author of ethical works.
Judah ben Samuel
minor
Also known as Judah ben Samuel
Medieval Jewish pietist referenced on divine love.
Hannibal
minor
Also known as Hannibal
Carthaginian general mentioned as a historical example.
Abimelech
minor
Also known as Abimelech
Biblical king cited in moral discussions.
Pythagoras
minor
Also known as Pythagoras
Greek philosopher referenced on number and harmony.
St. Augustine
minor
Also known as St. Augustine
Church Father cited on free will and divine grace.
Isocrates
minor
Also known as Isocrates
Greek rhetorician quoted on moral education.
Abraham
minor
Also known as Abraham, Elisha ben Abraham ben Judah
Biblical patriarch referenced in theological arguments.
Ammianus Marcellinus
minor
Also known as Ammianus Marcellinus
Roman historian cited on historical events.
Eusebius
minor
Also known as Eusebius
Church historian referenced on early Christianity.
Macrobius
minor
Also known as Macrobius
Roman writer cited on dreams and philosophy.
Thucydides
minor
Also known as Thucydides
Greek historian quoted on political morality.
Ajax
minor
Also known as Ajax
Greek hero from Homeric epics cited as an example.
Caligula
minor
Also known as Caesar Caligula
Roman emperor mentioned as a tyrant example.
Chrysippus
minor
Also known as Chrysippus
Stoic philosopher cited on logic and ethics.
Cato
minor
Also known as Cato
Roman statesman known for moral rigor.
Andronicus of Rhodes
minor
Also known as Andronicus
Peripatetic philosopher who edited Aristotle's works.
Athenaeus
minor
Also known as Athenæus
Greek writer cited on philosophical anecdotes.
Saadya Gaon
minor
Also known as Saadya
Jewish philosopher and exegete referenced on reason.
Rashi
minor
Also known as Rashi
Medieval Jewish commentator cited on Scripture.
Lactantius
minor
Also known as Lactantius
Early Christian author quoted on divine providence.
Apollonius Maximus
minor
Also known as Apollonius, Maximus
Philosopher cited on moral sayings.
Stobaeus
minor
Also known as Joannes Stobaeus
Greek anthologist of philosophical excerpts.
Alexander the Great
minor
Also known as Alexader the Great
Macedonian conqueror mentioned in historical examples.
Clement of Alexandria
minor
Also known as Clement of Alexandria, commentator Clement
Early Christian theologian cited on moral philosophy.
John Locke
minor
Also known as John Locke
English philosopher referenced on natural rights.
Ennius
minor
Also known as Ennius
Early Roman poet cited on moral maxims.
Cratylus
minor
Also known as Cratylus
Greek philosopher referenced on language and flux.
Mecænas
minor
Also known as Mecænas
Roman patron of the arts mentioned in passing.
Gaius Caesar
minor
Also known as Gaius Caesar
Roman emperor cited as a historical figure.
