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a83192
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Why did Aristotle and Plato have such great influence on Catholic thought when the were pagans and worshipped idols? This is something that has always puzzled me.
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Mxpxlcp55
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They were two of the earliest known giants of reason and their contributions to Western Philosophy haven’t gone unnoticed. Aquinas and Augustine formulated a Christianized version of their philosophies that is absolutely brilliant. Yes they were Gentiles but with the revelation they received through natural theology it is like they did “the best they could” so to speak with “what they had”. If they had aspects of the Truth then certainly why not acknowledge it, and I think that is why the masterful Saints have come in and adopted parts of their philosophical schools. In regards to worshiping Idols, it is my understanding that either of them did no such thing. They happened to live in a culture where idolatry was heavily practiced, yet I haven’t come across this so far but I have yet to read every work by either of the two so I could stand to be corrected. God Love You,
-Mark S.
-Mark S.
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Alindawyl
Guest
Truth must be accepted and celebrated wherever it is found.
Just because there is much that is true in Plato’s allegory of the cave doesn’t mean there must also be much truth in Plato’s belief in the demiurge.
Just because there is much that is true in the Aristotelian concepts of substance and accident doesn’t mean there is also much truth in Aristotle’s belief that matter is eternal.
The Church can accept and make use of that which is true without being forced to also accept and make use of that which is false.
Just because there is much that is true in Plato’s allegory of the cave doesn’t mean there must also be much truth in Plato’s belief in the demiurge.
Just because there is much that is true in the Aristotelian concepts of substance and accident doesn’t mean there is also much truth in Aristotle’s belief that matter is eternal.
The Church can accept and make use of that which is true without being forced to also accept and make use of that which is false.
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Inego_de_Loyola
Guest
Short answer? Because they were good philosophers and made an impression on St. Augustine, St. Thomas Aquinas and the world which they were both trying to bring to Christ.Why did Aristotle and Plato have such great influence on Catholic thought when the were pagans and worshipped idols? This is something that has always puzzled me.
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Ismael
Guest
Indeed. Reason is reason.Truth must be accepted and celebrated wherever it is found.
Just because there is much that is true in Plato’s allegory of the cave doesn’t mean there must also be much truth in Plato’s belief in the demiurge.
Just because there is much that is true in the Aristotelian concepts of substance and accident doesn’t mean there is also much truth in Aristotle’s belief that matter is eternal.
The Church can accept and make use of that which is true without being forced to also accept and make use of that which is false.
We can agree also with scientists that were atheists regarding their scientific work.
For example I admire Dirac a lot, even if he was an atheist. What I admire is his work not his atheism or even his ‘person’ (I never met him so I cannot even say I know him).
Same for these two philosophers: their work was of great impact.
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