Aquinas vs. Plato

Attribute	Aquinas	Plato
Philosophical Influence	Christianity	Ancient Greek philosophy
Epistemology	Empiricism and reason	Idealism and reason
Metaphysics	Existence of God	Forms and the realm of ideas
Ethics	Natural law theory	Theory of the tripartite soul
Political Philosophy	Justification of monarchy	Philosopher-kings ruling ideal state

Background

Thomas Aquinas and Plato are two of the most influential philosophers in the history of Western thought. Aquinas, a medieval theologian, and philosopher, is known for his synthesis of Christian theology with Aristotelian philosophy. Plato, an ancient Greek philosopher, is famous for his dialogues and his theory of forms. While they lived in different time periods and had different cultural backgrounds, both Aquinas and Plato made significant contributions to philosophy that continue to be studied and debated today.

Metaphysics

One of the key differences between Aquinas and Plato is their views on metaphysics. Aquinas believed in the existence of a single, all-powerful God who created the universe and governs it according to divine laws. He argued that everything in the world has a purpose and is part of God's plan. In contrast, Plato's metaphysics is centered around the theory of forms, which posits that there are abstract, ideal forms that exist beyond the physical world. These forms are the true reality, and the physical world is merely a reflection of them.

Epistemology

When it comes to epistemology, Aquinas and Plato also have differing views. Aquinas believed that knowledge comes from both reason and revelation. He argued that human reason can lead us to understand the natural world, but that divine revelation is necessary to comprehend spiritual truths. Plato, on the other hand, emphasized the role of reason in acquiring knowledge. He believed that true knowledge is innate and that we can access it through philosophical inquiry and dialectic.

Ethics

Both Aquinas and Plato were concerned with ethics and the question of how we should live our lives. Aquinas developed a moral theory based on natural law, which holds that there are objective moral truths that can be discerned through reason. He believed that human beings have a natural inclination towards the good and that our actions should be guided by reason and virtue. Plato, on the other hand, proposed a moral theory based on the idea of the tripartite soul, which consists of reason, spirit, and desire. He argued that the goal of ethics is to achieve harmony among these three parts of the soul.

Politics

When it comes to politics, Aquinas and Plato also had different views. Aquinas believed in the concept of the divine right of kings and argued that political authority ultimately comes from God. He believed that rulers have a duty to govern justly and in accordance with natural law. Plato, on the other hand, was critical of democracy and believed in the rule of philosopher-kings. He argued that only those who have knowledge of the forms are fit to govern and that society should be organized hierarchically.

Legacy

Despite their differences, both Aquinas and Plato have had a lasting impact on Western philosophy. Aquinas's synthesis of Christian theology with Aristotelian philosophy laid the foundation for Scholasticism and influenced thinkers such as St. Augustine and John Duns Scotus. Plato's dialogues continue to be studied for their insights into ethics, metaphysics, and epistemology, and his theory of forms has had a profound influence on the history of philosophy. Both Aquinas and Plato are considered giants in the history of philosophy, and their ideas continue to be debated and discussed by scholars and philosophers around the world.