Augustine of Hippo

Pseudo-Dionysius-The Areopagite, one of the most influential and inspiring theologians and philosophers of our world today. The birth and death dates of Pseudo-Dionysius are unknown, but was considered to be between the late fifth century to the early sixth century. Most of Pseudo-Dionysius’ writings are presumably lost but, what was recovered of his work are of the most famous and well known in the Christian community and a great framework for philosophers and theologians. Among his great work…

In Confessions, St. Augustine writes an autobiography in which he takes his first steps in transitioning to Christianity by confessing his sins to God. This transition expounded his life story and further emphasized his journey to overcome his sinful endeavors. By acknowledging God as his audience, St. Augustine violates contemporary expectations of autobiographical writing. Using this method, he alters the conventional purpose -- to inform -- and meaning behind autobiographies. Instead, he…

Augustine heads to Carthage, ready to find both emotional and physical love. He also realizes that he is a jealous and suspicious lover. Augustine says, "Yet, had these things no soul, they would certainly not inspire our love" (31). If he didn't have these feelings he would not love and not care. At the end of chapter one Augustine says that he should be scourged with burning rods of jealousy, suspicion, fear, anger and strife. Augustin was fascinated by plays. He preferred tragedy because he…

Because of this analogy of reason to believe by the 'first mover' of thought(Aquinas) was coined (and his believers) as " Thomists." Who guided Aquinas in his thoughts? Influential guidance "thinkers" included Greek philosopher Plato and father Augustine to help him develop his train of thought on God's existence and reasoning for evil and free will. The chapter is a somewhat comical (in my opinion) and simple or not so simple approach on Aquinas 'Thomist' thoughts on evil and free will by…

Aquinas uses his writing to persuasively show that God works through events to immerse themselves into God’s life and act in a sense that shows true freedom. By doing so, Aquinas is able to engage the reader in the concept of faith without having to stating it. Aquinas thinks of law as divine instruction and God will not limit us but will instruct us. For example, Aquinas writes about how one should love one’s neighbor because God exists in all of us. We are able to see and give back to God by…

Saint Thomas Aquinas is important to us today in numerous areas. He brought together science and faith. As the world continues to see biblical faith as the inferior neighbor to science, Aquinas mastered both. Aquinas was the culmination of the greatest orthodox theologian. He did not do it by separating science and faith but brought them both together. Aquinas make reason a component of Christianity by making it a component of Biblical interpretation, a shaper of the doctrine, a way to protect…

Augustine Against Academic Skepticism: An Analysis of the Concept of the “Testimony of Knowledge” in the Epistemology of St. Augustine This philosophical study will analyze the reliability of “testimony of knowledge” as a foundation for St. Augustine’s epistemology. Augustine seeks to refute the traditional aspects of Platonic philosophy by arguing against the skeptic view of knowledge. The ”academic” (aka. Platonic perspective) of the skeptic is founded on the principles of doubt, which…

and Community in the Confessions While Saint Augustine is able to form some superficial relationships with his peers while he is not a practicing Catholic, all of his deeper connections with those around him have roots in his devotion to and relationship with God. In fact, Augustine even goes as far as to say that everyone who has expressed kindness towards him has only done so because of God’s love flowing through them. Because of this belief, Augustine is only able to form lasting connections…

As Augustine looks over his life, the common thread and struggle that is seen is how he lives his life with the attitude of putting himself over others, but by the end of Confessions Augustine gets rid of his old ways and he begins to find trust in God. Augustine's life and sins from infancy to adulthood can be categorized in Lawrence Kohlberg’s theory of moral development. I think Augustine Kohlberg's theory states that humans progressed in moral reasoning throughout six stages or three levels…

I found Saint Augustine’s conversion story very relatable in the fact that there was a seed planted early on by his mother which laid dormant until philosophy activated its growth. In the Confessions, Augustine remarks several times that his mother had always been leading him on the path of Catholicism, even when he didn’t realize it: sometimes in teaching him certain morals, other times by exemplary and virtuous action on her part. He ended up, of course, falling in with the Manicheans in his…