For the final paper, I’d like you to reflect on the reconciliation of Platonic, Aristotelian, and Christian thought. Specifically, how did Augustine embrace Platonic themes to elaborate his political thought? How did Aquinas embrace Aristotelian philosophy? What role do this-worldly concerns play in the thought of Augustine and Aquinas? What role does the realm of the ideal play in their thought? Contrast Augustine and Aquinas by identifying the Platonic and Aristotelian influences in their thought and how they go about reconciling these philosophical outlooks with Christianity.
Be sure to be specific in your papers. Make sure to show an understanding of the texts we reviewed in class and make references to the texts. While this paper should be 9-12 pages long, any page length is fine so long as you delve deeply into the prompt and address it directly. Be sure to refer to the texts!
