Date Available
4-21-2015
Year of Publication
2015
Degree Name
Master of Arts (MA)
Document Type
Master's Thesis
College
Arts and Sciences
Department/School/Program
Classical Languages and Literature
First Advisor
Dr. Terence Tunberg
Second Advisor
Dr. David Bradshaw
Abstract
Much has been said about the influence of Plotinus, the Platonist philosopher, on the ideas of Augustine of Hippo, the Western Church Father whose writings had the largest impact on Western Europe in the Middle Ages. This thesis considers both writers’ ideas concerning matter, evil, and language. It then considers the way in which these writers’ ideas influenced their style of writing in the Enneads and the Confessions. Plotinus’ more straightforward negative attitude towards the material word and its relationship to the One ultimately makes his writing more academic and less emotionally powerful. Augustine’s more complicated understanding of the material world and its relationship to God results in a more mystical and more emotionally powerful style, which derives its effectiveness especially from its use of antithesis and the first and second person.
Recommended Citation
Thomas, Anthony J. IV, "BEAUTY SPEAKING: BEAUTY AND LANGUAGE IN PLOTINUS AND AUGUSTINE OF HIPPO" (2015). Theses and Dissertations--Modern and Classical Languages, Literature and Cultures. 3.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/mcllc_etds/3
