NATIONAL LAW INSTITUE UNIVERSITY, BHOPAL (M.P.

TRIMESTER XI

JURISPRUDENCE II

Augustine and Plato

Submitted By:
Pavi Jain
2008 B.A.LL.B. 35
Eleventh Trimester

DECLARATION

Augustine and Plato

The text reported in this project is the outcome of my own efforts and no part of this report has
been copied in any unauthorized manner and no part in it has been incorporated without due
acknowledgment. The observations made in this report are my own.

Pavi Jain

TABLE OF CONTENTS

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Augustine and Plato

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INTRODUCTION
PLATO
THEORY OF FORMS
ON ULTIMATE AIM
ON STATE
ON JUSTICE
ON LAW
ST. AUGUSTINE
ON ULTIMATE AIM
ON STATE
ON JUSTICE
ON LAW
CONCLUSION
BIBLIOGRAPHY

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INTRODUCTION
This project deals with the concurrent similarities between the philosophies of Plato and that of
St. Augustine. Plato considered the forms to be the greater knowledge (true essence) attainable
only by philosophers and those with a truly rational soul. In fact, this is the basis for Plato's
entire assertion that philosophers not only should be rulers, but are the only people fit to be rulers
if the aim of a society is justice. On the other hand, Augustine concentrates mainly on the aspect
of divinity and Biblical law. The views of both Plato and Augustine must be seen with respect to
ultimate aim of human beings and society, law, justice and state.
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Augustine and Plato

PLATO
Plato (b. 469 B.C. d. 399 B.C.) was a Greek philosopher, a mathematician, and a writer of
philosophical dialogues called the Socratic dialogues. He was born in Athens. He was the
disciple of Socrates. Plato put forth the idea that reality is unavailable to those who use their
senses. He says that he who sees with his eyes is blind, and this idea was captured in his allegory
of the cave. He drew a distinct line between the actual world and the ideal world.
Theory of Forms

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Augustine and Plato

Plato also propounded his Theory of Forms or the Theory of Ideas. Plato emphasizes that the
Forms are not which are extended in space (or time), but rather exist in a more abstract way. He
asserts that non-material abstract forms or ideas, and not the material change known through
sensation, possess the highest and most fundamental kind of reality. According to him reality is
perceived by eyes of the soul and not through sense perception. Thus he was concentrating on
abstract ideas than the sense perception.
Plato believed in pure essence and pure truth. This pure truth can be perceived not through sense
perception but through the eyes of the soul. This is evident in his theory of forms. A form is an
abstract property or quality. Take any property of an object; separate it from that object and
consider it by itself, and a form is contemplated. For example, if the roundness of a basketball is
separated from its color, its weight, etc. and considering just roundness by itself, one is thinking
of the form of roundness. According to Platos theory, this property shall exist apart from the
basketball, in a different mode of existence than the basketball. The form is not just the idea of
roundness that one has in mind. It exists independently of the basketball and independently of
whether someone thinks of it. Forms are pure. They are pure properties separated from other
properties. As in the example of a basketball, there are many properties like roundness, weight,
colour, elasticity etc. A form is just one of these properties, like roundness separated from all
other properties.
According to Plato forms are transcendent in nature, that is, they do not exist in time and space.
Forms are perfect and material objects are just copies of them. As he propounded in the similie of
cave, the shadows on the wall represent material objects, while the real objects passing before
the fire are the forms. The cave metaphor, thus illustrates properties of forms. The forms are the
ultimately real entities, not material objects. All material objects are copies or images of some
collection of forms; their reality comes only from the forms.
So, according to Plato the world as perceived by senses is not real, but just an image of it. The
truth can be perceived only through the soul. Whereas the objects of the material world are
apprehended by the senses, the Platonic ideas are apprehended by the mind. For him practical
was meaningless and false. Ideals unrelated to sense perception are more important.
On Ultimate Aim
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Plato believed in objective ways and not subjective ways. When he talks of the ultimate aim of
society i.e. the good of the society, the ultimate aim is possession of good and happiness and that
it cannot be decided by ordinary people. Only the philosophers can decide the good of the whole
society through the eyes of their soul. Plato identifies and names three classes of individuals - the
"bronze" artisan class, the "silver" military class, and the "gold" elite ruling class. His focus is on
the upper "gold" class, who are deemed to be capable of being educated to reach the ultimate
state of "reason". That is, it is the gold people or the philosopher kings who can find the
ultimate aim and decide. In fact, a large part of the book Republic addresses how the educational
system should be set up to produce these philosopher kings.
On State
Plato says that an ideal state must have certain important attributes:
1. It must be based on justice.
2. Everyone must be happy in an ideal state.
3. Unity is the paramount consideration and whosoever tries to disrupt it, coercion will be
used against him.
Justice according to Plato, consisted in achieving common good. The common good being
uniform, there is one single aim for everyone in the society. Therefore, he believes in uniformity.
Plato talks about an ideal city in his book Republic. Plato asserts that societies have a tripartite
class structure corresponding to the appetite/spirit/reason structure. The appetite, spirit, and
reason stand for different parts of the body. The body parts symbolize the classes of society.

Productive, which represents the abdomen (Workers): Labourers, carpenters, plumbers,

masons, merchants, farmers, ranchers, etc. These correspond to the "appetite" part of the

soul.
Protective, which represents the chest (Warriors or Soldiers): Those who are strong and

brave; in the armed forces. These correspond to the "spirit" part of the soul.
Governing, which represents the head (Rulers or Philosopher Kings): Those who are
intelligent, rational, wise, well suited to make decisions for the community. These
correspond to the "reason" part of the soul and are very few.

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Plato says reason and wisdom should govern and only a few people are fit to govern. As he puts
it in his book, Republic:
"Until philosophers rule as kings or those who are now called kings and leading men genuinely
and adequately philosophize, that is, until political power and philosophy entirely coincide,
while the many natures who at present pursue either one exclusively are forcibly prevented from
doing so, cities will have no rest from evils,... nor, I think, will the human race."
On Justice
According to Plato, the philosophers i.e. the true ruling elite have a pre-destined knowledge.
Platos creation of society consisted of many citizens who lacked this pre-destined knowledge,
making them unfit for ruling. These people, according to Plato, would conform to the ideals of
philosophers, and therefore, to create justice.
On Law
Plato held that law was a product of reason and he identified it with Nature itself. According to
him, what is perceived through the self of a philosopher becomes a very important moral
standard. He considered nature to be sacrosanct where there is no variation. Whatever is
perceived through self is considered a part of nature and it will be obeyed as a part of sacrosanct
natural law. Plato never championed rule of law but only the character of the ruler, which could
lead to good governance. He contended that its the gold people who must rule.
Therefore, with respect to legal system, Plato was stressing that it must be found by the elites, i.e.
the philosophers. Platonic state is ideal and exemplary; it represents man in the abstract. There
was no perfect state and no perfect men in it; one can only strive for the ideal.
ST. AUGUSTINE
St. Augustine (354 A.D. 430 A.D.) also called St. Augustine of Hippo, was the Bishop of Hippo
Regis. He was a philosopher and theologian and his writings contributed a great deal to the
development of Western Christianity. Augustine was very much influenced by Platonic
philosophy. It can be said that his philosophy is the Christianized version of Plato. Both
Philosophers attempted to do what was good and just, but because they had different
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definitions of the basic concepts, they used opposing strategies. Augustine concentrated more on
the aspect of divinity.
Augustine believed there was a close connection between reason and the Christian faith. In fact,
he tried to reconcile faith and reason. For Augustine, belief in the Christian God was the key to
understanding reality. Augustine basically Christianized Platos theory of forms.
Augustine argued that God created the world without using prior existing materials. He also
promoted the teleological argumentthe view that the design of the universe shows that God
created it. Augustine also stated that before God created the world there was no time. Thus, God
himself is outside of time.
In order to understand the difference between the political ideals of Plato and Saint Augustine,
one needs an explanation of each individuals concept of politics. Through out The Republic,
Plato emphasized his belief that:
The perfect society would be that in which each class and each unit would be doing the work to
which its nature and aptitude best adapted it; in which no class or individual would interfere
with others, but all would cooperate in difference to produce an efficient and harmonious whole.
That would be a just state.1
Platos philosophy in Republic implies a concept of God; this concept of God is an intangible,
impersonal entity that is the precondition for all ideas, all reality, all of the "Forms". This tacit
view of God is not a religious interpretation. In Republic, Platos point is not to establish an idea
of God, but instead to determine what is right, good, just, and true; however, Plato has brought
forward a vague, abstract notion of God. The Platonic attitude towards God was not one of
reverence or responsibility, but rather a concept of ultimate and unchanging perfection which all
ideas and laws were derived from. By having a higher power, the citizens of his Republic would
feel a responsibility not only to the state, but also to God, and therefore would consider
themselves obligated to perform the work assigned.
Augustine embraced this view of Plato in a very different manner. He concentrated on divinity
absolutely.
1 (433-4)
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Augustine and Plato

On Ultimate Aim
According to Augustine there must be grace and love of God through which a man can reach his
ultimate aim, that is, salvation. To find the ultimate aim, path of virtue must be followed by man
and it cannot be followed unless there is love and grace of God. Thus for him the ultimate aim is
salvation and it can be achieved only by following a virtuous path.
On State
According to Augustine, state is an institution borne out of original sin. State, law, and legal
systems are parts of original sin. State according to him was created to punish people who
committed sin. People inherently may not be virtuous and they may be selfish. He considered
state to be embedded in original sin. He contended that church must stay separate from state.
Faith is a protected right for all citizens and the state will not interfere with the church. The state
will perform the secular duties and the church will take care of the spiritual matters. For the State
to be just and moral it must follow the Christian principles of love of God and of each other for
his sake. It is the duty of the Church to imbue the State with these principles. This gives the
Church superiority over the State, though no right to interfere in secular matters. According to
Augustine, of itself state is neither just nor moral; it is worldly. This is a consequence of original sin.

On Justice
For Augustine, justice was nothing but giving a person his due. According to rules of eternal law,
dues given according to Gods reason are justice. Justice can be understood only by realizing the
relation between God and man. Thus justice is what is made due to a man according to Gods
will.
On law
According to Augustine, whole universe is governed by eternal law and so natural law is nothing
other than the eternal law (Law of God). This eternal law is universal, immutable and
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unchanging with respect to time and space (Just like Platos Forms). This eternal law is
governed by reason of God and not man. With respect to law, Augustine insisted that divine law
is superior to the human law. The laws of man must be in conformity with the will of God. As a
Christian theologian he sees gods word as the ultimate power. Therefore even though human law
can be virtuous this is only the case when it influenced by divine law.

CONCLUSION
Augustine was much influenced by Platos philosophy. His philosophy is a Christianized version
of Platos. Augustine seems to accept general theory of Plato's, but he then proceeds to extend it
to the realm of Christianity. Saint Augustine combined Christianity with Platonic theory.
Augustine favoured a more God-centered view. In other words, to Augustine, the fulfillment of
God's grand plan and design became the utmost concern of the human endeavor.

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REFERENCE
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

St. Augustine: Plagiarist of Plato, http://www.essortment.com/all/staugustinepl_rspx.htm

St. Augustine, http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/augustine/
http://www.iep.utm.edu/augustin/
The Form Theory of Plato, http://faculty.washington.edu/smcohen/320/thforms.htm
http://www.philosophicalsociety.com/Archives/Plato%20And%20The%20Theory%20Of

%20Forms.htm
6. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Republic_(Plato)

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