Saint Augustine Flashcards
Social organization and the nature of men.
Men live in the city of men and are able to enter the city of God if they live a divine life.
The City of men is fragmented, and men creat division through their actions. Men create division because there is evil inside them, the original sin and the fallen man.
Why does evil exist, because God is absent. Men have free will to disobey God if they want to. To disobey the hyperreality the people in power have constructed.
2 types of laws
The divine (natural) law, is based on the bible. People are governed by God.
The humane law is created on the basis of the divine law because we as humans can´t comprehend the divine law.
Why is science seen as a danger?
Science separated faith and reason, whereas Christian beliefs connect these two.
Manichaeism
He constructed the chritianism.
Based on Neoplatonic ideas. So it roots in the philosophy of the greeks.
The idea of the city of good and the city of men. He goes beyond the apologetic view.
Faith and reason
Equals truth (God). Where faith is over reason.
Saint Agustine argues, that if you have faith (in other beliefs than Christianity, mythologic theology) but no reason, then you only get the literary value. It´s the easy choice and the comfortable choice, which maybe suits “old societies”.
Civil Theology: Princes - The princes try to use their beliefs two preserve and expand their interests. Political value, where politics are over religion. Saint Augustine argues, it will end in conflict.
Physic Theology: Philosophers - Were searching for the truth, which Saint Augustine argues is GOD. Therefore Christianity is based on the old philosopher’s ideas, Neoplatonism, which legitimate it.
The perfect state
The city of God
The purpose of the state
To remedy human sin.
