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| | [[Image:Raphael.jpg|right|thumb|Raphael's depiction of Plato in '''The School of Athens'''.]] | | [[Image:Raphael.jpg|right|thumb|Raphael's depiction of Plato in '''The School of Athens'''.]] |
| − | '''Plato''' was a great [[Greek philosopher]] who lived from 428 to 347 BC. His family name was Aristocles. He was a friend of [[Socrates]] and founded the Academy, where Plato taught his philosophy, which entailed many separate disciplines. | + | '''Plato''' was the father of Western philosophy, a great [[Greek philosopher]] who lived from 428 to 347 BC. His family name was Aristocles. He was a friend of [[Socrates]] and founded the Academy, where Plato taught his philosophy, which entailed many separate disciplines. |
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| | + | Plato had an immense positive influence on early [[Christians]]. [[Saint Augustine]] said, “The utterance of Plato, the most pure and bright in all philosophy, scattering the clouds of error ....”<ref>https://blog.logos.com/2013/11/plato-christianity-church-fathers/</ref> Plato's influence on early Christian thinkers included: |
| | + | *an afterlife with a heaven as absolute truth, such that we remain conscious after our physical death;<ref>Philippians 1:23.</ref> |
| | + | *the rejection of [[materialism]] and [[atheism]];<ref>http://creation.com/plato-and-christianity</ref> |
| | + | *the division of the soul from the body, with the soul closer to truth and good; |
| | + | *acceptance of [[intelligent design]] of the universe. |
| | + | St. Augustine was able to build on Plato's work in order to understand the compatibility of [[faith]], which is unique to [[Christianity]], and reason. |
| | ==Influence== | | ==Influence== |
| | Plato is one of the half-dozen most influential philosophers in world history, and his work is studied today in every philosophy department. Plato's most famous work is [[The Republic (Philosophy)|''The Republic'']]. One of Plato's pupils was [[Aristotle]], an equally important philosopher with a philosophy that grew out of Plato's school. | | Plato is one of the half-dozen most influential philosophers in world history, and his work is studied today in every philosophy department. Plato's most famous work is [[The Republic (Philosophy)|''The Republic'']]. One of Plato's pupils was [[Aristotle]], an equally important philosopher with a philosophy that grew out of Plato's school. |