One of the most influential contributions made by Plato involved the dualism inherent in his philosophy. He taught a conflict between the ideal and the receptacle, between knowledge and opinion, between soul and body. This battle is largely lost by ordinary people as they are enslaved by their lower passions, but for some, it is possible rise above the earthly attractions and contemplate higher and more significant truths.

Many have again noted the striking correlation between Plato's thought, and the teaching of the New Testament. Paul says the things that are seen are temporal, but the unseen are eternal. He distinguishes the inward man and the outward man, and notes that the outward man is perishing. Most famously, he emphasizes the battle between flesh and spirit.

It was this apparent parallel between Plato and Christianity that gave rise to early Gnosticism. Throughout its history, the Christian faith has been forced to draw a line between Greek and biblical views. Keep this in mind as you consider the material of this lesson.

1. Introduction to the Major Themes of Philosophy
2. The Ionian Philosophers
3. The Italian Philosophers
4. The Athenian Pluralists
5. The Life and Times of Socrates
6. Introduction to Plato
7. Plato's World of the Forms
8. Plato's Parable of the Cave
9. Dualism in Plato
10. Introduction to Aristotle
11. Aristotle's Metaphysics
12. Aristotle's Categories
13. Aristotle's Theory of Language
14. Aristotle's God
15. The Epicureans
16. Stoicism
17. Philo of Alexandria
18. The Christian Synthesis
19. Early Christian Apologists
20. Antiochan Christianity
21. Alexandrian Christianity
22. The Council of Nicaea
23. Manichaeism
24. Neo-Platonism
25. The Life of Augustine
26. Overview of Augustin's Thought
27. Augustin's Epistemology
28. Augustin's Epistemology (part 2)
29. Augustin's Theory of Faith
30. Augustin's Understanding of the Church
31. The Pelagian Controversy
32. The Pelagian Controversy (cont)
33. The Pelagian Controversy (concl)
34. Anselm of Canterbury
35. Anselm's Cur Deus Homo
36. Introduction to the Classical Synthesis
37. The Classical Synthesis (part 2)
38. Thomas Aquinas and the Five Ways
39. Art, Philosophy, and the Renaissance

This wide ranging course starts with the pre-Socratic philosophers of the ancient world, and traces the history of philosophical speculation across the ages up to the present. Included along the way is special attention to the greatest Christian thinkers in history, including Augustine, Anselm, Aquinas, Luther, Calvin and many others.