School of thought

Patristics

Tradition

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Classification

Period
c. 100-750 CE
Regions
europe
Domains
Epistemology , Philosophy of Religion

Overview

Patristic philosophy encompasses the thought of the Church Fathers who synthesized Christian theology with Greek philosophy — especially Neoplatonism and Stoicism. Augustine of Hippo, the most influential figure, developed profound analyses of time, memory, evil, free will, and the relationship between faith and reason that shaped Western thought for a millennium.

Key ideas

  • Faith Seeking Understanding: Augustine established the model: faith precedes but does not exclude reason. Philosophy serves theology, and the tools of Greek thought illuminate Christian doctrine.
  • The Problem of Evil: Evil is not a positive substance but a privation of good (privatio boni). God permits evil because free will — which makes genuine love possible — also makes sin possible.
  • Divine Illumination: Just as the sun enables sight, God illuminates the mind to grasp eternal truths. Human knowledge ultimately depends on divine light.

Key figures

Augustine of Hippo · Origen · Basil of Caesarea · Gregory of Nyssa · John Chrysostom

Methods used

Positions held

  • Theism

    Question scope: The Existence of God

Influenced by

  • Neoplatonism
  • Stoicism
  • Zoroastrianism

    Zoroastrian eschatology, cosmic dualism, and angelology may have shaped early Christian thought through centuries of Persian–Jewish contact.

Later connections

References

  • Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Augustine
  • Augustine, On Free Choice of the Will, Book II (argument for the existence of God)
  • Augustine, Confessions VII.9 (the books of the Platonists)
  • Marcia Colish, The Stoic Tradition from Antiquity to the Early Middle Ages (Brill, 1985)
  • Mary Boyce, Zoroastrians: Their Religious Beliefs and Practices (Routledge, 1979)
  • Augustine, De doctrina christiana, III (rules for interpreting scripture)
  • Confessions — Augustine
  • City of God — Augustine
  • On First Principles — Origen