Augustine and Platonism

TomL

Well-known member
Copilot

Certainly! Augustine was indeed influenced by Platonism. Let me share some insights:

  1. Augustinian Platonism: In his anthropology, Augustine firmly embraced Platonism. He insisted on the soul’s superiority to and independence from the body. According to him, the soul was superior in the hierarchy of reality, and the inferior (i.e., the body) could not act on the superior (i.e., the soul) 1.
  2. Neoplatonism and Augustine: Early Christian philosophers, including Augustine, revered Plato and his school of thought. Neoplatonists interpreted Plato as someone who understood eternal truth, which aligned with later Christian ideology. Plato’s metaphysics and epistemology significantly influenced Augustine’s understanding of God as a source of absolute goodness and truth 2.
  3. Neo-Platonism: Augustine recognized Neo-Platonism as the closest pagan philosophy to Christian beliefs. Unlike materialistic Epicureans and Stoics, Neo-Platonists held that there are immaterial or spiritual realities 3.
In summary, Augustine’s philosophical views were shaped by Platonism, particularly in his understanding of the soul, God, and metaphysical concepts. If you have any more questions or need further information, feel free to ask!
 
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