The Argument Of Wisdom In Augustine's 'Against The Academician'

In the book “Against the Academicians,” the argument of wisdom as a way to obtain happiness is presented. This argument is represented by Trygerius, who is a non-skeptic and Licentius, who is a skeptic. The argument starts when Augustine asks, “Do you have any doubt that we ought to know the truth?” (1.2.5, p. 5). Trygerius thinks that people is happy when they find the truth. He also thinks that a happy man is a wise man, and anyone who is still searching for the truth is not perfect and not happy. Also, he says that someone who is always searching for what he never finds is in error. Licentius holds that we can be happy if we are searching for the truth. He points out that his ancestors did it and they were wise and only God is perfect and knows the truth, and searching for the truth is human perfection. Also, he does not think that humans are …show more content…
Also, a man only by the fact that he is searching for the truth is wise because he frees his mind and makes full use of his reason. This is how he enjoys human happiness, and when he dies he can enjoy divine happiness. Finally the last definition found in Book 1 is that wisdom is not only knowledge but the search for knowledge of the human and divine matters that are relevant to be happy.
In my opinion, I do not think that the possession of knowledge nor the pursuit of knowledge is strictly necessary for a happy life. I can see why this was important in Augustine’s time and even in Cicero’s time. Know, we tend to see knowledge as something objective, as books and information that we can obtain if we like it, or