Analyzing Plato and Augustine Vs Socrates Term Paper

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Plato and Augustine vs. Socrates

It has been argued that Plato was the best student that Socrates ever had. There have been many instances to justify this view; Plato's works form the core of elements that inform such a claim. Plato described his mentor in his many works and made him stand out. Plato wrote in Dialogue. He observed that good rules everything else. St. Augustine was later converted to Christianity after following some pagan religion for some time (Kavteladze, 2011). St. Augustine emulated Plato's Good in several ways. Like any good student, St. Augustine borrowed several ideas from his mentor; Plato. There are many striking resemblances between Plato's concept of good and Augustine's philosophy of the Christian God. It is not surprising to cite such resemblance because a lot of Augustine's ideas were drawn from the Bible and his mentor Plato. He also incorporated Neo-Platonism concepts in his philosophies.

Analysis

Augustine's philosophies are drawn from Plato's ideas and the Bible. In the course of blending the two, some fundamental differences can be observed. Augustine made a remarkable effort to fuse the ideas to emerge with a benevolent God as opposed to embracing a kind that would only perpetrate knowledge of Good (Kavteladze, 2011).

The two are similar to the extent that they are eternal and absolute. Plato's Good, and the form of Good was always in existence. Moreover, there is no period when they ceased to exist. According to Augustine's observation, they have never varied and they have always exhibited similarity. He observes that there is only one type of cake, beauty and love. The form of cake acts with other forms and generates limited particulars that are non-absolute, but changeable specifics (Kavteladze, 2011) .

Duty is the second similarity. According to Plato, philosophers sought knowledge, and that absolute forms of knowledge came in the best form; the Good. According to his thoughts, people out to search for knowledge of the Good and act upon it; with knowledge that the actions are right. In his observations, the God of the Christians acts in similar ways. It is people's personal duty to pursue good and right and embracing the fact that knowledge originates from God (Kavteladze, 2011)

Highest reality is the third aspect of good, all forms and indeed, Plato's forms are dependent on the form of the good. The knowledge of all forms comes from knowing the form of Good. Understanding God means understanding all forms of knowledge possible (Kavteladze, 2011)

The overwhelming quality comes as the fourth similarity. According to the Republic 508-9, Sun metaphor, it is overwhelming to grasp the form of Good. According to Christianity, knowing God creates a similar effect on an individual (Kavteladze, 2011)

Reflecting on humans as the highest entity and with regard to all else is the fifth similarity. According to Plato, the form of good is ideal. However, in the course of doing good, humans are unable to attain absolute goodness. This is because humans have no clue on what absolute goodness looks or feels like. Christians operate in similar ways because Christianity holds on to the idea that humans cannot be perfect in their being and character. They believe that it is only God who can be perfect. The moral behavior observed among humans is a result of the reflection of the absolute goodness that comes from God (Kavteladze, 2011)

Both are unchanging and morally absolute. The form of good is in eternal existence and that morality will remain the same through the ages. The Christian concept of God is strikingly similar to these thoughts. The Ten Commandments is a notable case (Kavteladze, 2011)

Although there are several striking similarities between Augustine's idea of god and Plato's concept of the form of Good, there are some fundamental differences too. Although Augustine accepted and appreciated many of Plato's idea, he had an urge to write his philosophy too by applying early concepts of god by the early Christians. He, therefore borrowed several ideas from the Holy Bible. In the end, there are some significant differences between St. Augustine's ideas and Plato's. St. Augustine also explored several ideas of Neo-Platonism. Some of them are different from Plato's too (Kavteladze, 2011).

Firstly, there is a difference between the two concepts in as far as transcendence and immanence is concerned. Transcendence means having the ability to live beyond the current world and having no interaction between the two periods. Plato describes the form of the Good in this fashion.

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The Christian God is accorded the recognition of existing outside the universe. He is also accorded the property of immanence. This is related, in some way, to the idea of being omnipresent in both the material and metaphysical universe (Kavteladze, 2011)

The fundamental difference here is that while the Form of Good does not find a way of interaction with humans and exists in a different realm, the Christian God is evidently interactive and is involved in human activity. Assuming that the Biblical account is true, and doing it for the sake of argument God mixed and interacted with human to a great extent. He taught them to differentiate the good from the bad and lead them to embrace morality on various occasions. Plato does not follow that course of argument. The form of good does not tell humans right from wrong. It does not interact with them either. Rather, it gives them the knowledge of good after full attainment of the knowledge of the good (Kavteladze, 2011)

The second element in the list of differences between the two philosophies points out that the Form of Good does not have a personal connection with humans. It only exists as a realm in a hierarchy of theoretical concepts; it is impersonal and nonresponsive. On the other hand, the Christian God of Judea has a more personalized interaction with people. In Christian accounts, God is sensitive to people's suffering. He actively intervenes in their plight and need. It is observed that the Christian God rewards good deeds and punishes evil ones. For instance, if a person is faithful and good, they are likely to be rewarded with a great life. God also relieves the pain and suffering that His people experience; if they are good people (Kavteladze, 2011).

Secondly, it can be observed that the form of good is not personal. On the other hand, the God of Judea is personal. Christianity says that God is touched when people suffer. He is said to reward those who pursue good and punishes the evil seekers. For instance, a good and faithful person is slated to enjoy a good life. Moreover, God eases their suffering (Kavteladze, 2011). The Christian God takes interest in the material universe and is more personal in his interaction with humans. The form of the good on the other hand appears to sit at the top of the pyramid of forms. In addition, God changes form. He grants humans their wishes in prayer according to His discretion.

The Christian God is personal to the extent that he is incarnated in Jesus Christ. Christ lived as an ordinary human before his crucifixion. The form of good was never incarnated here or anywhere else. It was never crucified or even lived as a normal ordinary being. It is still abstract and only exists as in the realm of the forms and is non-existent.

Morality forms the third difference between the form of good and God. In Plato's view, the form of the good is absolute and serves as a source of all morality and of all the good actions in the universe. The Christian God, on the other hand, is not always viewed as having absolute moral focus; although the Old Testament suggests something to that effect and even seemed extreme, some New Testament passages point to the need for people to behave relatively. Conspicuous example is the case when Jesus healed a person on a Sabbath.

The fourth difference between the Christian God and the form of the good is in their inherent qualities. While the form of good is an abstract concept that only exists in the realm of forms at the peak of the pyramid of forms, and does not possess any real life attributes, the Christian God is often practically present.

The thoughts and acts of Socrates form the basis of Greek philosophy. It is the basis of millennial wisdom across the ages. Socrates taught his followers that philosophy was a kathasis; a purification. He stated that man on earth can purify themselves wholesomely that he will have the audacity to present himself before snow white (the gods) and that on that other side, the pure people will get a pass to paradise; a place of complete security and safety. Socrates states that those who will not be purified on earth, it will not be possible to dream of salvation in heaven. He states that the fate of man is determined.....

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