Question

Explain the influence of Platonic ethics upon Augustine’s moral philosophy by answering the following:

1) Describe Plato’s ethics with regard to the revaluation of Greek Values, Plato’s Metaphysical Grounding of Values (Theory of Forms), the Analogy of the Divided Line

2) Describe Augustine’s moral philosophy with regard to Augustine’s use of the Divided Line and his concept of the Two Cities. (How does Augustine “Christianize” Plato’s notion of the Divided Line?).

Answer 1

Note* This response is in UK English, please paste the response to MS Word and you should be able to spot discrepancies easily.

(Answer)

Plato’s ethics on revaluation of Greek values: According to Plato, a basic dishonouring of conventional attitudes is both a prelude to and a consequence of wisdom. (The hybris of Socrates – William Desmond)

Plato’s theory of forms: According to Plato’s theory of forms, the physical world is a mere image or shadow of the spiritual realm of ideas. He believed that these non-physical items were proper representations of the world.

Plato’s analogy of the divided line: Plato explained that the divided line is a line between that mind and body. In other words, the line divides the visible world (seen by the eye) and the intelligible world (seen by the mind’s eye)

Augustine’s moral philosophy (Augustine’s rendition of the divided line): Saint Augustine believed that material and physical gains only guaranteed temporary happiness. He believed that only supreme wisdom and spiritual well being, primarily focused on the love of God could guarantee eternal happiness.

Augustine’s concept of the two cities: Augustine describes two cities. One is the earth and the other the spiritual world. Citizens of both cities aim to achieve peace. Respectively, worldly peace and spiritual peace.

Explanation on how Augustine “Christianised” Plato’s notion of the divided line: In both philosophies, Plato and Augustine speak of transcendence and the temporal world. Both value the spiritual world as a higher realm of eternal peace and higher ideals. The major difference is that Saint Augustine of Hippo makes God the centre of this spiritual realm.