Platonic Tradition

SinopsePlatonic Tradition

Peter Kreeft’s lecture series on The Platonic Tradition emphasizes its foundational role in Western philosophy, likening its importance to Confucianism in Chinese culture and monotheism in religion. He explores Plato’s central concept of transcendent reality, known as Platonic Forms, tracing its roots in myth and Socratic thought. Kreeft discusses major figures who adapted Plato’s ideas—Aristotle, Plotinus, and Augustine—and examines the influence of Christian Platonists like Justin Martyr, Bonaventure, and Aquinas.

The series also critiques the philosophical consequences of abandoning Platonism, beginning with William of Ockham’s Nominalism and its impact on modern empiricism, Kant’s philosophy, and analytic philosophy. Kreeft highlights 13 reductionist trends in modern thought across disciplines, influenced by thinkers such as Descartes, Marx, and Nietzsche. He delves into the ethical void left by rejecting Platonic ideals, drawing from Pascal, Kierkegaard, Dostoevsky, and others to illustrate a turn toward nihilism.

In the final lecture, Kreeft offers experiential evidence supporting Platonism, pointing to enduring "doors out of the cave" that hint at transcendent truths and possibilities for reclaiming the Platonic vision in contemporary philosophy.