Augustine of Hippo Who was he?

Dates and Places Born 354 CE, died 430 CE Spent most of his life in Roman North Africa Was bishop of a place called Hippo when he died (now in Algeria)…

Augustine’s Influence 1. Medieval philosophy – particularly the relationship between faith and reason 2. Mysticism – Love of God central to his thinking. 3. Reformation – Both sides refered to him! Luther drew on his emphasis on grace, Catholicism drew on his insistence on free will. 4. Enlightenment – although Augustine’s doctrine of “original sin” was disliked at this time it still had much influence.

And more influence… th /19 th century Romanticism – drew strongly on Augustine’s interest in “feeling” and religion. In fact, we owe the use of the term “heart” in the “feeling” sense to him. 6. Platonism – lay the foundation stones for synthesis between Christianity and Platonism. This link is still strong today. 7. Philosophy of language – Clearly saw the problem of the relationship between language and the reality it describes.

Augustine and Christianity Pagan father, devoutly Christian mother. Troubled relationship with the church. Became a Christian over many years while he grappled with the issues Finally made his decision in 386 CE.

Augustine’s and Manichaeism Manichees were dualists. The universe is a battle between good and evil – there is no omnipotent good God. Human beings are the battleground, divided between the good “soul” and the bad body. In his early years Augustine was strongly influenced by these ideas. Some of his ideas about the nature of the world may come from here.

Augustine and Sex He wrote one of the earliest known autobiographies, the “Confessions”. In it he admits to struggling with his own sexual urges. His own internal struggles may well have come to influence his thoughts about other things.