Exploration of Plato and Augustine's Philosophies

Plato (427-347 BCE) asserts that in order to acquire pure knowledge of anything, one must overcome physical distractions and contemplate truths with the soul. This notion is encapsulated in his quote from Phaedo 66a. Plato's background is rooted in an aristocratic Athenian family, which was involved in the rule of the Thirty Tyrants. He later founded the Academy, an institution often seen as the blueprint for the modern university (Law, S., 2007).

Central to Plato's philosophy is the dichotomy between the Ideal world of Forms and the transient Material world. The world of Forms represents a permanent and unchanging reality, while the Material world is mutable and reflective of the unchanging Forms. Plato explains that the Material world we observe is merely a replica of the true reality found in the realm of Forms, as noted in The Republic, Books VI-VII.

This dichotomy extends to his perception of human nature. Plato contends that humans consist of two primary components: the body and the soul. The soul embodies the eternal Self, while the body is a changing entity, merely an imitation of the true Self. This perspective leads to the conclusion that the soul exists independently of the body and persists beyond physical death. The body is likened to a prison, confining the self within its temporal limitations. Such contemplation allows individuals to achieve communion with universal and eternal ideas, which emphasizes that our essence continues to exist even in the absence of our physical bodies, as we are fundamentally Souls.

Pop-up Question #3: How would you describe the relation of your Self to your body?

Shifting focus to Augustine (354-430), he reflects on his own struggles in light of Platonic thought. Augustine admits, "But my sin was this, that I looked for pleasure, beauty, and truth not in Him but in myself and His other creatures, and the search led me instead to pain, confusion, and error" (Confessions, AD 397-400). As a North African philosopher who later became the Bishop of Canterbury, Augustine was deeply influenced by Plato.

In his early life, he grappled with reconciling his faith with the existence of evil, leading him to abandon Christianity initially (Law, S., 2007). Yet, his encounter with Neo-Platonism and the theory of the Forms provided him with essential frameworks for understanding the divine. Drawing from Plato, Augustine delineated between the transient Material world and the enduring world of the Forms. He posits that the Material world is merely a temporary residence, while the true home, characterized by permanence and infinity, is found within the realm of Forms. His philosophical journey ultimately guides him back to Christianity, where he embraces the duality of physical and spiritual existence as reflective of divine truth.

Plato and Augustine's philosophies offer profound insights into the nature of existence, the self, and the divine, encouraging reflections on the interplay between the body and the soul.

Philosophical Insights of Plato and Augustine

Philosophical Insights of Plato and Augustine