Final answer:
The phrase 'imago Dei' means 'image of God' and is central to discussions in religious traditions about the nature of humanity and the permissible ways to contemplate or depict the divine. This concept has led to theological debates between iconoclasts and iconophiles over the use of religious images.
Step-by-step explanation:
The phrase imago Dei is Latin for 'image of God.' It is a theological concept found in many religious traditions, but most specifically in Christianity, Judaism, and Islam, which emphasizes that human beings are created in the image and likeness of God. This notion has had a profound impact on the value of human life within these religious cultures and has led to ethical implications regarding human dignity and treatment.
Throughout history, different interpretations of this concept have influenced art, thinking, and the depiction of the divine. In the context of iconography, the imago Dei leads to a tension between those that opposed any representation of the divine, known as iconoclasts, and those who supported it, called iconophiles. Iconophiles, literally 'lovers of images,' defended the use of imagery as a pathway to worshiping the divine and they argue that since Jesus was God made flesh, the depiction of his human form was acceptable. This viewpoint supports the use of religious images as an embodiment of divine truth and presence, rather than a mere idol.
Philosophical interpretations of the nature of the divine, such as the ones presented by Maimonides and Plato, also revolve around the understanding of God's essence and how it should or shouldn't be conceptualized or depicted by humankind. Whereas Maimonides prompts believers to move beyond anthropomorphic depictions as they mature in faith, Plato describes the material world as a corrupted mimesis of a perfect and immutable realm of forms or ideas.