Immortality of Soul and Platonism

[Marcos_2]

Hi,

I was searching about immortality of soul and Platonism.

It seems me our catholic belief in immortality of soul is associated to a idea of Platonism: we have a material body, and an imortal soul.

Could someone mention anything, or recommend any website giving information about this theme?

Thanks.

 

[cialovesyou]

Can give you a brief run-down here.
For Plato the soul was a life force, which occupied the body. The word animate comes from the same word as soul, de anima.
Plato says the soul has three attributes.
Plants have souls of the nutritive type, which say plants have along with the rest of us. It feeds itself.
There is the sensitive, which say animals have, the ability to feel pain etc.
Then there is the reasoning, which humans have, the ability to reason things out.
Now, according to our Greek friend, the first two types must exist with a body, so are annihilated at death.
But the reasoning, does not require a body, so can survive independant of it, hence, can survive past death.

 

[Verbum]

Hi Marcos,

For Plato souls were pre-existing. Origen, who is counted among the Fathers, although his writings were more philosophical than theological, seems to have supported that view, later condemned by the Church.

For a long discussion of this Christian Platonist, see

theandros.com/evagrius.html

Verbum

 

[Verbum]

Hi Marcos,

Was my post helpful?

Verbum

 

[Marcos_2]

Hi there, Verbum,

I suppose that link is useful.

Lately, I’m not having time to read it entirely, however, later I’ll study it better.

I guess in Saint Agostinho’s book, Confessions, there is any explanation, but I’m not sure.

Thanks!