I too find most philosophers interesting but difficult. I think any honest person would say that. But if I want gold, I've got to do a little digging.
The relationship between Plato and Augustine is essentially the relationship between Plato(nism) and Christianity-- at times strained, but generally mutually supportive [Nietzsche went so far as to say that "Christianity was Platonism for the masses"]. Before Augustine, Plato's writtings significantly influenced the ways in which early Christians expressed themselves [e.g. the letters of Paul, the Gospel of John]. Right after Augustine, most Christian Theology expressed itself in a basically Platonic manner. Gradually though, Aristotle's thought and style began to be used more and more; until this trend reached a kind of culmination in Thomas Aquinas's Theological writings, who style dominated until the Protestant Reformation [and a kind of revival of Platonic expression].
To get to **a** point here: Augustine taught Christianity how to ‘do Philosophy’. Christian Philosophy is what we know as: Theology. Augustine learned to ‘do Philosophy’ from the Platonists and Plato's writings.
Basically then, he taught Christianity how to think Platonically about even the most subtle of issues.
Some comments [on the board] below are revealing both about the Cave, and about some connections between the Gospel and Cave allegory.
I'll write more specifically on this tonight.
It would help me if you gave me more of an idea what issues and problems already come to mind when you deal with the Plato/Augustine question-- no matter how basic you think those questions may be.
Feel free to ask or say anything-- simple intellectual honesty is the only basis for all useful insight. tim phronesia
|