1. a creator or artisan-like figure
Usage: philosophy; theology
2. in Platonic philosophy, a divine craftsman who fashions the physical world
Usage: philosophy; ancient Greek
3. in Gnostic belief, a subordinate deity who creates the material world
Usage: theology; Gnosticism

Examples

• Plato described the demiurge as a benevolent creator who shaped the cosmos.
• In Gnostic texts, the demiurge is often portrayed as flawed or malevolent.
• The philosopher viewed the artist as a kind of demiurge, creating new worlds through imagination.
• Ancient Greek thought distinguished between the supreme god and the demiurge.
• The concept of the demiurge influenced later Christian and Islamic theology.
• Some modern thinkers use ‘demiurge’ metaphorically for any powerful creative force.