The ideas of the early philosophers, Plato in particular, have had a major influence on how people view their existence, and these ideas continue to influence people today. Plato’s ideas have had a big influen

ce over the belief that the human is divided into separate parts. Plato suggested that what makes humans different from other creatures and things is that humans have a soul and a body. While most people believe this, Plato, along with this division, emphasized that a human’s soul is in a struggle to control or escape the body. In Phaedo, Socrates states, “the soul reasons best when none of these senses troubles it, neither hearing nor sight, nor pain nor pleasure, but when it is most by itself, taking leave of the body and as far as possible having no contact or association with it in its search for reality” (Plato, p.14). By making the purpose of humanity to obtain truth and then stating the body “prevents us from seeing the truth” (Plato, p. 15), Plato has created!

Like Plato theorized, people can best be described as composed of different parts. However, unlike Plato’s idea that the parts are in opposition, all aspects of a person come together to make humans unique creatures. The aspects of a person can be divided into body, mind, and soul. The body is the physical aspect of a person. The mind is what controls the body, allows us to learn, and contains memories. The soul is what sets people apart from the rest of creation and what makes humans in the image of God. It gives people a sense of morality, a conscience, and a notion to consider the eternal. All three of these parts together make us human. Life is not a struggle for one aspect to overcome the other. The body and mind often takes the rap for human’s fall and corruption. However, God created humans perfectly, and when humanity fell, all aspects fell; therefore, people must strive to restore all aspects back to communion with God. The body and physical aspect is often!

Why are we here? As a Christian, this question can be answered only in relationship to God. Later in life, Augustine came to terms with his position as a person and in relation to God. Humans do not obtain meaning or worth through striving to control their body and earthly things. People cannot become perfect, gain spiritual enlightenment, or reach eternal truths on their own, as Plato hoped. As Augustine realized, only through an encounter with God, who gives us grace, can be become a new and better person. Humans were created to serve and commune with God, and through grace one will eventually be able to reach eternity with God. In the mean time, people are to do their best to follow his commandments and care for creation and the rest of humanity.

A lot of time has been spe

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