Platonic Philosophy Of Christian Theology - 1902 Words

Platonic Philosophy in Christian Theology Plato is undoubtedly one of the world’s most widely read and studied philosophers, as he laid the foundations of Western Philosophy and science—influencing the world generations beyond his time. His influences can be seen in a multitude of subjects—aesthetics, political philosophy, cosmology, epistemology, the philosophy of language, and even theology. Although Plato was Greek, and the Greeks are not inherently Christian, multiple aspects of his philosophy are compatible, even illuminative, of the Christian faith. Another name that will ring a bell of familiarity is St. Augustine—one of the most important and well-known theologians in the history of the Christian religion. As St. Augustine dedicated his life to studying and writing intellectual foundations of Christianity in the West, his established knowledge of the Christian faith credits him with a strong status of influence. Many Christian philosophers, such as Augustine, have been impressed with Plato ’s philosophy and its connection to Christian Theology. Although Augustine never directly read Plato’s work, he did read two of Plato’s followers’ work, Plotinus and Porphyry, in Latin translation, and makes claims of connection between Platonic philosophy and Christian beliefs. In this paper I will first explain the aspects of Plato’s philosophy that are most similar to those of Augustine’s Christianity, and I will describe in what way these are alike and unalike. SpeakingShow MoreRelatedThe Influence of Platos Theories on Chrisianity1169 Words   |  5 Pagesone of the founding fathers of Western philosophy. Living from roughly 428 BCE until 348 BCE, Plato’s theories predated Christianity by at least four centuries. Because of this, it can be assumed that early Christian worshippers used Plato’s teachings as a basis for their religion. 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