Humans have struggled throughout the centuries with the complexity and ambiguity of our humanity. The question of who or what we are as humans is difficult one and does not have an easy answer. Our first understanding of humanity is based within the framework of the worldview in which we were raised within. However, through the process of maturing, it is natural to raise doubts of what we hold to be true is indeed accurate. There is no real proof concerning these areas of reality and humanity, so in one sense, life could be like Plato’s cave analogy- what if God was just giving our minds a diversion to keep us occupied? Or what about the matrix correlation- what if our minds were just programmed to believe in a fake reality? There are many questions; therefore, humans throughout the centuries have come up with a variety of “answers.” Two prominent ways to view human life come from the great philosophers: Plato and Saint Augustine. These men devoted much of their lives to pondering over these great questions of human life; however, they take drastically different views. Platonic thought has shaped much of the western world. Augustine, in contrast, came from a Chris

While Plato was interested in describing what we are as humans, the bible and my personal worldview seeks to describe who we are as humans. Plato thought that we were created in parts- part of us being truth and the rest being nothing. However, I believe that we were created whole and complete in God’s image. Bodiness is who we are as humans. The bible is not interested in scientific information; it is interested in giving a record of an encounter with God. It is written from a perspective of faith. I believe that God created all aspects of us simultaneously- our physical body, mind, and soul. I believe God made us at one time and that we all have an individual soul which is immortal. I believe our bodies serve as a reminder that we are immortal because they will perish when death occurs.

Our souls, however, are immortal and I believe they will be the part of us which lives onto eternity. I do not believe our souls preexisted our bodies. As Paul states in I Corinthians, we will be resurrected in heavenly bodies, but we do not know what heavenly bodies are like until we face that moment. I believe our humanity consists of three things: bodies, minds, and souls. We do have unique bodies which were created in the image of God. We are much more intelligent than any other animal in creation. Finally, we also have souls. God sent His only Son to die for us on the cross. Jesus did not die to save animals, plants, or nonliving things. Therefore, there must be a special part of us – our “inner being” which is able to understand spiritual matters and live onto eternity. We have a special relationship to God which no other living creature possesses. In Psalm 139, David expresses his joy in knowing that we are related to God and God is with us. We therefore have a “passion” in life, and this passion animates life itself. I Corinthians 15: 50 states, “flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, not does the perishable inherit the imperishable.” In a twinkling of an eye we will be changed. None of us know for sure what we will be changed to, but we can have the confidence that God has prepared a better body for us.

Plato’s view of humanity was that the soul is immortal and the body is not. He gives a famous analogy of the charioteer to explain the relationship of the soul to the body. Plato believes that we were once all gods before some of us “fell” to earth and became imprisoned in our bodies. Plato views the body as a cage, and one in which we are constantly striving to break free from. Since he does not view humanity as anything to do with the body, he spends much time attempting to explain and prove what the soul is, and whether or not it exists. The soul is compared to a winged charioteer and his team of two horses. One of the horses is of good stock, and one is the opposite in every way. The driver, Reason, is responsible for controlling these two horses. However, most of us do not succeed and end up breaking our wings and falling to earth. Once we fall to earth, we spend ten thousand years in a process of reincarnation trying to grow back our wings and return once again to the gods (Phaedrus, p. 50-56).

tian perspective. Although Augustine never truly separated himself from the platonic influence, I would side with Augustine’s views on humanity, the soul, and our relationship with God. I have been raised with a Christian worldview, so the majority of my views coincide with Augustine’s rather than Plato’s. I do not agree with Plato’s view of humanity, although my thoughts are most likely still influenced by him, like Augustine was. By examining both Plato and Augustine’s view on humanity and the soul, I will proceed to give my own beliefs on this particular subject also.

I believe the bottom line is that I am going to place my trust in God and what I know to be true from reading His word. We really do

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