Augustine's Time

Improved Essays
Augustine challenged different aspects of the topic of time, in which he struggled with the most crucial question: what is time? Though the concept of time may sound simple in our contemporary world, Augustine had a difficult time grasping this idea, constructing several seemingly contradictory statements. His intention was to generate a connection between the philosophical approach of time and that suggested by sacred scripture as demonstrated in Book XI in his work, Confessions. He applied the belief that when God created the heavens and the earth, He also created time itself. Nobody has attempted to acknowledge time as “changeable” until the works of Augustine, since many of us consider time as advancing. The first thesis of time he …show more content…
He finally came “to the conclusion that time is nothing other than tension: but tension of what, I do not know, and I would be very surprised if it is not tension of consciousness itself”(26,33). After Augustine’s groundbreaking revelation, he believed time may be an extension of the mind itself. From an Augustinian stance, if time is only a function of the mind and soul, and time, in total, comes from the eternal Word, then possibly the entirety of consciousness is plainly a fragment of the notion of time that lies in the mind of God, the all-knowing and all-powerful creator of the universe. There is a sense of tension considered, produced by the perception of time. He brings forth the example of the three functions of the mind: memory, attention, and expectation through language. Augustine states, “But the menstruation of time by these methods yields no result that is absolute, since it may happen that the sound of a shorter line, spoken with a drawl, actually lasts longer than that of a longer one hurried over, The same holds for the whole poem, a foot, and a syllable”(26,33). He analyzes lines of poetry and syllables in words to establishes how humans perceive sound and actions as longer or shorter. He also uses his recollection of reciting a poem to further express the concept of the three functions as he explains the different phases of reciting it and how different segments …show more content…
By figuring out the nature of time itself, he led us toward a direction that we have not arrived at the conclusion to up until now, and the truths to the issues Augustine addressed many centuries back may eventually confirm to unveil the bare essence of reality. He embarked on a journey to find answers to his questions whilst beseeching to God for help eventually refining his ideas down to one accepted theory: time is a tension of the

Related Documents

  • Great Essays

    His exploration into the omnipotence of God force him towards an understanding that he will never actually be able to process his world at a mindset comparable to the degree of God. Although it appears this creates disconnect, Augustine internalizes his thoughts as fascination for a plan larger than any rumination of his for explaining the world, invoking a sense of wonder despite rather than…

    • 1566 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Superior Essays

    First, Augustine draws a parallel between himself and a passage from the Old Testament in the chapter “Pear Theft”, in which Augustine is persuaded by his friends to steal pears from a local tree. The parallel between Augustine’s retelling and the story of Adam and Eve from the book of Genesis is both evident and purposeful. Adam is persuaded into taking the forbidden apple from Eve, leading to the eventual banishment from the Garden of Eden while Augustine is peer-pressured into stealing pears which signals his metaphorical banishment from enlightenment and acceptance of…

    • 1250 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    As the first stop on his search for his answer, Augustine begins with a reflection of his worldly desires. In the early years of life, Augustine says that infants, before learning language, express sinful and demanding desires. They seek nothing but the satisfaction of their own desire such as hunger, entertainment, etc. In his childhood and adolescent years, Augustine notes that once he began to learn language, he “entered more deeply into the stormy society of human life”.…

    • 804 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Augustine was born under two influences, however, through his life and experiences, he did not have to play the hand he was dealt. Through his many struggles, he was able to change the lifestyle that he was born under, by weighing the differences between right and wrong, presenting questions, and accepting change. Augustine’s Beginnings Who is Aurelius Augustinus Hipponensis…

    • 838 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    It is important to note that Augustine wrote “Confessions” after he had been ordained a bishop. He was not simply writing it to tell his story, but as a deliberate act of evangelization, hoping to lead his people into deeper faith through it. The book itself has a unique genre, although normally classified as an autobiography, it is actaully written as an extended prayer. This is apparent from the beginning lines which question and proclaim the human condition as in relation to God.…

    • 709 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    During the course of Augustine’s life he became a close friend to many, not just those who were affiliated within his community. The experience that he had with certain friends were a pivotal aspect of the stories and reflections written in Confessions. Over the course of Augustine’s life, he shows maturity in his interactions with his friends and begins to alter his selfish behavior. During Augustine’s spiritual journey he has dealt with friends that diverged him from his spiritual calling and friends that brought him closer to his calling. Relationships that both improved and stunted his spiritual development shed light on Augustine’s morality because certain actions put Augustine’s morals into question.…

    • 1832 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Saint Augustine’s Confessions is more than a narrative of conversion. It is a work written in an autobiographical narrative, conveying concepts with deep meaning, mainly about mistakes and the acknowledgment of faults. In Book IV, Augustine describes his relationship with a friend and the friend’s sudden death. Augustine takes us through his mourning process, one in which many people can relate, the feeling of sorrow and despair. These darker times relate to the CIT question speaking of what it means to be human.…

    • 1166 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Saints: Augustine, Francis, and Peter During Saint Augustine transition from infancy to boyhood, he questions if one day he opened his eyes and just woke up in boyhood. Augustine also questions if boyhood was growing while he was in his infancy. He also mentions that infancy did not leave him, so he questions what happened to it. Augustine says that his infancy did not stay with him, he says he is no longer an infant who lacks the ability to speak, but in fact he was a boy who could talk.…

    • 1164 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    While the information proves valuable and important, the bridging information could be a major distraction for readers hoping to jump right in on discovering information about Augustine. The focus on the importance of the eight principles is one which is built strongly upon; however, it can take time before the reader will realize the importance of this focus on Augustine as Mentor. Nevertheless, the weakness proves also perhaps one of the strengths as well since it is upon the importance of the eight principles which one readily identifies as the core not only of Augustine’s works but also applied to his life as he rose to the role of…

    • 1106 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    3. For Augustine “history” consist of God’s divine plan. Augustine’s world point of view was centered on God. For him, nothing was a coincidence, nor, accidental, but part of God’s plan for human species and for all the creation. As well as is portrayed in the Bible, Augustine’s history if linear, which mean that it has a begging e.g. the creation of the universe, and a end e.g the apocalypse or the Last…

    • 419 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Marisa Paris Humanities 220 Professor Cope 11/17/14 One of the benefits of comparing multiple different pieces of work is the ability it gives us to form our own opinions. Although the pieces of work may be from varying time periods, or unchanged time periods, each of them still include certain aspects that are virtually the same. For example, The Gospel of Luke, Paul’s Letter to the Romans, and Augustine’s Confessions, all present alike views on the idea of free will. A loose definition of free will could serve as follows: the capability to perform activities and make choices in which neither God nor fate controls either of them. This immaterial definition of free will is given life and unveiled in The Gospel of Luke, Paul’s letter to the Romans, and Augustine’s Confessions.…

    • 956 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Wisdom In Plato's Apology

    • 1352 Words
    • 6 Pages

    In Plato’s Apology, Socrates believes in two types of wisdom, human and Godly. Although he feels he lacks Godly wisdom, he believes he makes up for it by having a deeper connection or understanding with human and worldly wisdom. His ideas and theories on human wisdom allow him to appropriately defend himself against his accusers. His scope of knowledge on the subject of wisdom can be seen through out the course of his argument and plays a dominant role in Socrates Defense.…

    • 1352 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Decent Essays

    Individuals ask what God was doing in the time before he made the world. Augustine answers that there was no time, since God made time itself. Augustine considers the way of time. One can discuss past, present, and future time, however the past has stopped to be, what's to come is not yet, and just the present exists, but rather the present minute can't have any term. Be that as it may, if…

    • 231 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Decent Essays

    Augustine begins his biography by talking about his childhood, starting from infancy. He states, "No one is free from sin in God's sight, not even an infant whose span of earthly life is but a single day" (Book I). He describes babies and toddlers as the most selfish creatures, and he’s really not wrong in my opinion. His words in regards to the newborn are quite controversial. He moves on to his schooling.…

    • 290 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Great Essays

    St. Augustine’s Concept of Time Abstract: Augustine seeks to research the way of time by asking himself how time speaks to the psyche. He first tries to explain the concept of time through a clear and brief, temporary definition, based upon the standard thought that time has three sections. Such is established through his hypothesis that if nothing were moving, there would be no past; if nothing is somehow going to happen, there would be no future; and nothing would exist, if there were no present. The past is what no longer remains; the future that which is not yet.…

    • 2318 Words
    • 10 Pages
    Great Essays