Catholic Dictionary
Find accurate definitions of over 5,000 Catholic terms and phrases (including abbreviations). Based on Fr. John Hardon's Modern Catholic Dictionary, © Eternal Life. Used with permission.
Your Term:
PLATONISM
The system of thought originated by the Greek philosopher Plato (427-347 B.C.), pupil of Socrates. Platonism, in its influence on Christianity, is characterized by its contempt for sense knowledge and empirical studies, by a longing for another and better world, by frankly spiritual view of life, by its method of discussion or dialogue between persons to acquire more profound insights than could be obtained by cold reasoning, and above all by an unswerving confidence in the human mind to reach absolute truth, and to rely on this inner vision for the direction of one's moral life.
