Ancient Philosophy Archives

From Aristotle to Christ

From Aristotle to Christ, Louis Markos. IVP Academic (ISBN: 9781514011324) 2025.

Summary: Considers and appraises Aristotle’s influence on Christianity and how Christian thinkers appropriated his thought.

Louis Markos is a Platonist. And it seems axiomatic that Platonists and Aristotelians are two separate tribes, even though Aristotle was Plato’s student. Yet, if one didn’t know that Markos was a Platonist, in reading this book, one would think he was an Aristotelian. After a “yearlong dive” into Aristotle, he did not convert. But he came away with a deepened appreciation of Aristotle’s contribution both to philosophy and his influence (mostly positive) on Christian thinkers.

In this book, he addresses both of these. In so doing, he gave far more insight into Aristotle than my freshman philosophy class. And he helped me see how Christians used Aristotle as they clarified what the church believed. He does this in five parts.

Part 1: How to Think Logically

First of all, Aristotle articulated what it means to reason logically. From the law of non-contradiction to the correspondence theory of truth, Aristotle lays the groundwork for both the work of Aquinas and the scientific enterprise. Catholics, rightly or wrongly, drew from his distinction of substance and accidents in their doctrine of transubstantiation of the Eucharist. Dorothy Sayers draws on him to discuss the origin of evil. The syllogism became the basis for the Kalam cosmological argument (although Aristotle would have disagreed, believing both God and the universe were eternal. Augustine’s disagreement with Aristotle’s ideas of time led to his formulation of the timelessness of God. His ideas about the relation of body and soul also influenced Aquinas, as well as Dante.

Part 2: How to Read the Heavens and the Earth

To understand our world, we must ask questions of why, of cause. Aristotle clarified four types of cause: material, formal, efficient, and final. Markos notes how science often only recognizes two of these, the material and the efficient, failing to explain how matter can organize itself. He notes how important this also is for John Paul II’s Theology of the Body. Then Markos discusses how important this is to the argument for an Unmoved Mover. Without formal and final cause, we have only infinite regress. Yet Markos also detects the weakness in this. It can lead to the static, detached God of Deism, as it did for many in the 18th century. Finally, while we reject most of Aristotle’s cosmology in light of modern science, his belief in an ordered universe was consistent with Christian belief and Augustine’s and Boethius’ ideas of providence.

Part 3: How To Behave

Aristotle’s ideas of the soul and embodied life were vital to his understanding of ethics and virtue. Aristotle understood the importance of the choices we made in the formation of our character, and our agency in those choices. He influenced thinkers like Aquinas, Dante, Donne, and Lewis. Unlike Plato, however, he could not understand the virtue in suffering unjustly, as Christ did on the cross. However, Markos also shows how deeply insightful he was on the nature of friendship and his ideas of a life well-lived.

Part 4: How to Get Along with Our Neighbors

Much of this section draws on Aristotle’s Politics, tracing the rise of the polis from the family, and identifying the forms of government. Consistent with scripture, Aristotle warned of the danger of existing without the polis. Unlike Rousseau, we are not noble savages. Markos also introduces us to Alasdair McIntyre, and his “rescue” of Aristotle from Rousseau’s ideas, and how he enlarges with a Christian understanding Aristotle’s ideas of our telos, with its hope of forgiveness, redemption, and the welcome of God in the new creation. He shows Aristotle’s prescience in his understanding of the importance of private property for human order and flourishing. Likewise, Aristotle recognized the vital priority of the rule of law in any form of government, which Markos believe of vital relevance for our own day. He traces the direct arc from Politics to the Federalist Papers.

Part V: How to Make Beautiful Things

This last section begins with the proper use of rhetoric. As Aristotle teaches, it consists in the integrity of the person (ethos), emotional force (pathos) and an appeal to reason (logos). He uses Polycarp and his final speech, facing martyrdom, as an example. He also addresses Aristotle’s ideas of poetry and tragedy, and how Christianity may extend these.

Assessment

I read a fair part of Plato’s works earlier in life. Markos’ account was so motivating that I ordered a couple of his recommended books including The Basic Works of Aristotle edited by Richard McKeon. He makes a good case for how Aristotle provide Christians the tools to articulate and defend their faith. At the same time, he shows what Aristotle failed to see, that was illumined by scripture. Finally, he shows where Aristotle may have led some astray, particularly the Deists.

Markos is a great teacher. He is clear and readable. More than that, I appreciate his effort to read, and assess Aristotle on his own terms. Finally, from Augustine to McIntyre, Aristotle has been part of the church’s conversation. So much that is part of the “furniture” of Christian belief, that we attribute to scripture, also reflects the interaction of the church’s teachers with Aristotle. Markos helps see that.

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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for review.

Pauline Theology as a Way of Life, Joshua W. Jipp. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2023.

Summary: A study of Paul’s theology as an invitation to a flourishing life through participation in Christ, observing parallels and contrasts with both ancient philosophy and modern positive psychology.

The language of human flourishing may be found wherever one turns. That is not surprising since it is a matter of perennial concern to understand how one might live well. Joshua W. Jipp makes that the focus of a study that seeks to understand how both ancient philosophy and modern positive psychology have articulate how humans may be said to flourish. He then asks the same question of the theology of Paul showing both parallels and distinctives. In fact, Paul engaged the philosophies of his day, identifying both points of contact and the more excellent way of the Lord Jesus Christ. And this is our task today, addressing how the received truths of scripture speak to the important concerns of the day.

The first part of the book attempts to extrapolate some basic principles of human flourish of ancient philosophy and positive psychology in turn. Ancient philosophy recognized the necessity of a supreme good that offers both a model and rationale for a good life. It identified virtue, coupled with wisdom is central to the enjoyment of a good life. In the good life appropriate emotion must be aligned with virtuous action. Philosophy also addresses human nature and the puzzling aspect of why we do not always do the good we know. Finally, such philosophy must be all encompassing, addressing our relationships in society and the place of adversity as it relates to human flourishing.

Similarly, positive psychology focuses not on illness but on living well. Jipp summarizes positive psychology in five theses that parallel his summary of ancient philosophies:

Positive psychology is devoted to helping people flourish.
People flourish when they use and actualize their character strengths.
Flourishing requires good relationships in all spheres of life.
Adversity can make important contributions to human flourishing.
Flourishing requires practices and exercises.

One of the interesting parts of this chapter was the summary of the Virtues in Action (VIA) study and the list of virtuous character traits clustered around six: wisdom and knowledge, courage, humanity, justice, temperance, and transcendence.

The latter part of the book, then, considers Pauline theology with regard to human flourishing and in conversation with these other two. Jipp begins with the idea of transcendence. He proposes that in Paul, the goal of human existence, the supreme good is to share in the life of God through the person of Christ. This addresses the supreme human predicament, death, allowing us to live in resurrection hope. The moral life is rooted in the transformed mind in Christ through which we experience God’s life. This gives us the capacity to think, feel, and act as we ought as we are in union with Christ and empowered by his Spirit. Union with Christ unites us with his people, his body, his family, and his temple. This brings unity in diversity. Jipp explores the implications of this in Paul’s teaching on slaves, celibacy, marriage and the status of women. As such, the church visibly embodies Christ’s love and hospitality. Finally, we flourish in Christ through disciplines, practices, and exercises that position us to grow in the knowledge of Christ and the enjoyment of God.

What Jipp offers is an account of Paul’s theology that shows God’s intent that we flourish in Christ, growing in moral character, in community with his people and through spiritual practices. Much of this parallels both ancient philosophy and positive psychology, but what sets the Christian account apart is the empowering work of Christ aligning thought, emotion, and action, and offers an account of loving relationships that transcend divisions and bring diverse peoples together.

It does seem to me that what Jipp draws from Paul is shaped, at least in part, by his engagement with the other two systems. I wonder if Jipp would have articulated this theology of human flourishing in Paul in the same way if he had first pursued this study, and then engaged the other two. That said, Christian theology is often characterized as a constraint on human flourishing, a confinement on human freedom, and on the realization of the good life. This articulation of “positive” theology (though not apart from addressing the realities of sin, suffering, and death) offers resources for Christian engagement with interested spiritual seekers who may have considered both philosophy and positive psychology and still haven’t found what they are looking for.

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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary review copy of this book from the publisher.