Two of the figures in the painting include Plato’s and Aristotle’s images. Plato was a Greek Philosopher and his importance at the time was the contribution he made in the development of philosophy, western science and mathematics as a foundational figure (Steinkruger, 2014). He was chosen to be a part of the work in Sistine Chapel due to his philosophical views related to ideal government and societal ethics which are vital in religious teachings. Aristotle was also a Greek philosopher and his contribution included views on metaphysics that continues to impact Christian theology (Steinkruger, 2014). His image was used because it represents a scholastic tradition that is very relevant in the Catholic Church.
If the painting were created today, the two modern great thinkers who would be included are John Caputo, a professor of Religion Emeritus at Syracuse University and Francis Beck an associate professor at Baylor University in Church-State studies. John Caputo would appear in the place of Aristotle because he represents a philosophic body of knowledge relevant in the Catholic Church. Francis Beck would appear in the place of Plato because he represents knowledge about ideal government and state just like Plato.
Two people who should be present in this painting include women philosophers such as Simone de Beauvior and Margaret MacDonald (Tantam, 2015). Simone de Beauvior can appear in the place of Plato because she represents societal ethics through her philosophy. Margaret MacDonald can appear in the place of Aristotle because she had a significant contribution in the field of metaphysics just like Aristotle. They should be included in order to have gender balance observed in the painting. In most paintings, male philosophers have been blessedly been included without any female philosophers being recognized.
References
Steinkruger, P. (2014). Studies on Plato, Aristotle and Proclus: The Collected Essays on Ancient Philosophy of John Cleary. Classical Review, (2), 386.
Tantam, D. (2015). The Contribution of Female Existential Philosophers to Psychotherapy. Existential Analysis: Journal of the Society for Existential Analysis, 26(1), 36-48.
