Saint Augustine’s Philosophy: Achieving True Happiness
Saint Augustine of Hippo: Life and Faith
Saint Augustine (354 AD) was born in Tagaste to a pagan father and a Christian mother. He lived during the decline of the Roman Empire, a period marked by significant cultural and religious transformation. Christianity, initially a persecuted religion, was gaining acceptance. In 313 AD, it was officially recognized, and by 380 AD, it became the state religion.
This shift led to a blending of two distinct traditions: Greek culture, the initial foundation of the Roman Empire, and Christianity. Greek philosophy presented an optimistic view of humanity, emphasizing human independence and the ability to find truth through reason. In contrast, Christianity offered a more pessimistic view, asserting that humans are entirely dependent on God and incapable of finding truth independently. This sparked a debate between reason and faith.
The Church Fathers and Saint Augustine’s Synthesis
A group known as the “Church Fathers,” including Saint Augustine, emerged during this time. Augustine argued that reason and faith are interconnected, and he sought to prove this through a conceptual system that combined both (“believe in order to understand, and understand in order to believe”).
Plato’s philosophy heavily influenced Augustine’s thought, particularly the search for truth (identified with God), the division of the human being into body and soul, and the concept of universal ideas within the soul.
Augustine’s Journey to Truth
Augustine’s reading of Cicero’s “Hortensius” ignited his lifelong pursuit of truth and happiness. He initially explored Manichaeism but later became disillusioned with it. He then encountered the Skeptics, whom he later criticized for their self-contradictions. Finally, he embraced Christianity, influenced by the sermons of Bishop Ambrose, his reading of the “Enneads,” and the letters of the Apostle Paul. These experiences led him to see Christ not only as a spiritual teacher but also as a savior.
In 386 AD, Augustine retreated with his family to Cassiciacum for reflection. There, he wrote “De Vita Beata” (“On the Happy Life”), converted to Christianity, and was later appointed Bishop of Hippo. He died in 430 AD during the Vandal siege of the city.
Augustine’s Anthropology: The Union of Body and Soul
Augustine’s central thesis in “De Vita Beata” is that true happiness is attained through the complete knowledge of God, a state achievable only with a pure soul. His anthropology emphasizes the unity of the human being, composed of body and soul, summarized in the phrase: “Man is a soul that makes use of a body.” The body serves as an instrument of the soul.
For Augustine, the soul is the principle of life. It is immortal, created by God, and rational, serving as the principle of knowledge. The body, on the other hand, is mortal and irrational. Both body and soul require nourishment, but of different kinds. The body needs material things, which are perishable and fragile. Augustine cautions against building happiness on these, advocating for temperance and using them as means to an end.
The soul’s nourishment consists of immortal and imperishable things that provide true happiness. These are permanent goods, according to Augustine.
The Path to Happiness: Memory, Understanding, and Will
Augustine believed that happiness is attained through the knowledge of God, found within our souls. The soul comprises three faculties: memory, understanding, and will. Memory is the principle of knowledge, based on ideas that God has placed in our souls. Understanding and will, however, shape our capacity for free will, the ability to choose between good and evil. Freedom, for Augustine, is the correct use of free will, the ability to choose good.
Original Sin and the Role of Divine Grace
However, Augustine argued that we are not inherently free due to the consequences of original sin. The soul is wounded by *cupiditas* (disordered desire), a consequence of the original sin committed by Adam and Eve. This inclination leads us to choose material, perishable goods that do not bring true happiness. We choose well only when we are truly free, aided by God’s grace. With God’s help, the soul is in a state of *caritas* (charity), enabling us to choose permanent goods and attain universal truth through internalization and illumination, ultimately leading to the conclusion that God is the universal truth. In this way, Augustine reconciles faith and reason.