Platonism

Platonism is the philosophy of Plato or the name of other philosophical systems considered closely derived from it. In a narrower sense the term might indicate the doctrine of Platonic realism.

Philosophy

Platonic ontology poses a transcendental absolute 'The One' that according to Platonic epistemology can be known by reason working from innate ideas.

The central concept is the Theory of forms. The only true being is founded upon the forms, the eternal, unchangeable, perfect types, of which particular objects of sense are imperfect copies. The multitude of objects of sense, being involved in perpetual change, are thereby deprived of all genuine existence. The number of the forms is defined by the number of universal concepts which can be derived from the particular objects of sense.

The highest form is the Form of the Good, which is the ultimate basis of the rest, and the first cause of being and knowledge. Conceptions derived from the impressions of sense can never give us the knowledge of true being; i.e. of the forms. It can only be obtained by the soul's activity within itself, apart from the troubles and disturbances of sense; that is to say, by the exercise of reason. Dialectic, as the instrument in this process, leading us to knowledge of the forms, and finally to the highest form of the Good, is the first of sciences.

Platonist ethics is based on the Form of the Good. Virtue is knowledge, the recognition of the supreme form of the Good. And since in this cognition the three parts of the soul, reason, spirit, and appetite, all have their share, we get the three virtues, Wisdom, Courage, and Moderation. The bond which unites the other virtues is the virtue of Justice, by which each part of the soul is confined to the performance of its proper function.

Platonism had a profound effect on Western thought. Like Aristotelianism, Platonism poses an eternal universe, contradicting the nearby Judaic tradition that the universe had been created in historical time, with its continuous history recorded. Unlike Aristotelianism, Platonism describes idea as prior to matter and identifies the person with the soul. Many Platonic notions secured a permanent place in Latin Christianity.^[1]

History

The Academy

Platonism was originally expressed in the dialogues of Plato, in which the figure of Socrates is used to expound certain doctrines, that may or may not be similar to the thought of the historical Socrates, Plato's master. Plato delivered his lectures at the Academy, a precinct containing a sacred grove outside the walls of Athens. The school continued there long after. There were three periods: the Old, Middle, and New Academy. The chief figures in the Old Academy were Speusippus (Plato's nephew), who succeeded him as the head of the school (until 339 BC), and Xenocrates (till 314 BC). Both of them sought to fuse Pythagorean speculations on number with Plato's theory of forms.

Around 266 BC, Arcesilaus became head of the school. Under Arcesilaus the Academy strongly emphasized Skepticism. This phase is known as the Middle Academy. It was characterised by its attacks on the Stoics and their assertion of the certainty of truth and our knowledge of it. The New Academy began with Carneades in 155 BC, the fourth head in succession from Arcesilaus. It was still largely skeptical, denying the possibility of knowing an absolute truth; both Arcesilaus and Carneades believed that they were maintaining a genuine tenet of Plato.

Middle Platonism

Around 90 BC, Antiochus of Ascalon rejected skepticism, making way for the period known as Middle Platonism, in which Platonism was fused with certain Peripatetic and many Stoic dogmas. In Middle Platonism, the Platonic Forms were not transcendent but immanent to rational minds, and the physical world was a living, ensouled being, the World-Soul. Pre-eminence in this period belongs to Plutarch. The eclectic nature of Platonism during this time is shown by its incorporation into Pythagoreanism (Numenius of Apamea) and into Jewish philosophy (Philo of Alexandria).

Neoplatonism

In the 3rd century, Plotinus recast Plato's system, establishing Neoplatonism, in which Middle Platonism was fused with oriental mysticism. At the summit of existence stands the One or the Good, as the source of all things. It generates from itself, as if from the reflection of its own being, reason, the nous, - wherein is contained the infinite store of ideas. The world-soul, the copy of the nous, is generated by and contained in it, as the nous is in the One, and, by informing matter in itself nonexistent, constitutes bodies whose existence is contained in the world-soul. Nature therefore is a whole, endowed with life and soul. Soul, being chained to matter, longs to escape from the bondage of the body and return to its original source. In virtue and philosophical thought it has the power to elevate itself above the reason into a state of ecstasy, where it can behold, or ascend up to, that one good primary Being whom reason cannot know. To attain this union with the Good, or God, is the true function of human beings.

Plotinus' disciple, Porphyry, followed by Iamblichus, developed the system in conscious opposition to Christianity. The Platonic Academy was re-established during this period; its most renowned head was Proclus (died 485), a celebrated commentator on Plato's writings. The Academy persisted until Roman emperor Justinian closed it in 529.

Christianity and Platonism

Platonism influenced Christianity first through Clement of Alexandria and Origen.^[2] Augustine was heavily influenced by Platonism as well, mostly through Victorinus Afer.^[2] Platonism was considered authoritative in the Middle Ages, and many Platonic notions are now permanent elements of Latin Christianity.^[2] Like pagans had before them, Christians understood Platonic forms as God's thoughts.^[2] Platonism also influenced both Eastern and Western mysticism.^[2] Meanwhile, Platonism influenced various philosophers.^[2] When Aristotle became more renowned than Plato in the 13th century, Aquinas's philosophy was still fundamentally Platonic.^[2]

With the Renaissance, scholars became more interested in Plato himself.^[2] In 16th, 17th century, and 19th century England, Plato's ideas influenced many religious thinkers.^[2] Orthodox Protestantism on continental Europe, however, distrusts natural reason and has often been critical of Platonism.^[2]

References

^ "Platonism." Cross, F. L., ed. The Oxford dictionary of the Christian church. New York: Oxford University Press. 2005
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j Cross, F. L., ed. The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church. New York: Oxford University Press. 2005 Cite error: The named reference "Oxford" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).

Oskar Seyffert, (1894), Dictionary of Classical Antiquities, pages 481, 484.

[1] "Platonism." Cross, F. L., ed. The Oxford dictionary of the Christian church. New York: Oxford University Press. 2005

[Oxford-2] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j Cross, F. L., ed. The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church. New York: Oxford University Press. 2005 Cite error: The named reference "Oxford" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).

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