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Wellsprings
theology

Likeness to God

ὁμοίωσις θεῷ

Becoming as much like god as a human can — Plato's answer to what the philosophic life is ultimately for.

Homoiosis theō, or "likeness to God," is a central goal in Platonic philosophy. Plato taught that the philosophic life aims at becoming as godlike as possible—turning the mind toward eternal realities and striving to imitate them. This is not about achieving divinity itself, but rather harmonizing one's character and intellect with the unchanging, perfect forms that God embodies. The idea became foundational to later Platonism and influenced Christian theology substantially.

The concept works practically as an ethical compass. A philosopher working toward godlikeness would train their mind away from fleeting sensory pleasures and toward contemplation of eternal truths, thereby gradually reshaping their soul. This person models themselves on divine perfection—stability, wisdom, and virtue—not through magical transformation but through persistent intellectual and moral discipline. Such an individual becomes a living example to others, demonstrating that human excellence is possible through alignment with the divine order.

Where this idea shows up

61 Greek sources·1 Jewish-canon citation

Where to read it