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Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

1990

Portland State University

Neoplatonism

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Full-Text Articles in Arts and Humanities

Neoplatonic Influences In Augustine's Confessions, Shon H. Kraley Jan 1990

Neoplatonic Influences In Augustine's Confessions, Shon H. Kraley

Anthós Journal (1990-1996)

Augustine wrote the Confession at a time when Christianity was still a small religion mostly populated with peasants and lower-class individuals. This paper argues that he actively utilized Neoplatonic philosophies and ideas in order to give credibility to his Christian doctrine. By doing so he accomplished the goal of expanding Christianity and appealing to the Intellegentsia.


Intellectual Traditions As Predecessors To St. Augustine, Jennifer Lovell Jan 1990

Intellectual Traditions As Predecessors To St. Augustine, Jennifer Lovell

Anthós Journal (1990-1996)

St. Augustine both explicitly and implicitly relied on existing intellectual traditions in the construction of his Confessions. He not only explicitly references Neoplatonic thought, he also implicitly constructs his argument around Neoplatonic ideals. He also used rhetorical and epic traditions to create his Christian Doctrine. By blending the teachings of the Bible with these traditions, this paper argues that St. Augustine effectively appealed to the intellectual elite.