The purpose of this essay is to show the development of the cognitive reasoning that motivated Augustine to create his work De civitate Dei. We will consider several interpretations of the City of God in order to provide a broad spectrum that helps developing an opinion about his work. In order to understand his thought process, it is important to also consider the historical and sociological background that Augustine lived in since it constitutes a rudimentary basis to understand him. Furthermore, we will analyze the heritage of the cities he creates. An innovative approach is also given in Augustine‟s work since it constitutes the first record of a created progress. The city of God and its development are depicted as a continuous process and were very unique and innovative for Augustine‟s time. It established a new era in history writings as well as in theological terms.
Furthermore, focus will be laid on human beings living together with angels in their cities, as well as the role of the church on Earth. The final focus will be directed towards the concept of dualism in Augustine and his sociological/historical environment. In order to mention the importance stateism creates in Augustine, an indication towards this matter will be made before aiming for a conclusion. We will now present a short abstract about the life of Augustine, focusing on the historical context that accompanied it.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Augustine’s life in the historical context
De Civitate Dei
Civitas dei
Foundation of the city of God and the city of Man
Humans/Saints and Angels
Humans on earth
City of God and Church
Civitas terrena
The intertwined cities
Concept of dualism
Stateism in Augustine’s thinking
Conclusion
Research Objectives and Themes
The essay explores the cognitive reasoning behind Augustine's composition of De civitate Dei, examining the historical, sociological, and philosophical influences that shaped his concept of the two cities and his theological view of history.
- Historical and sociological context of Augustine’s life
- Development of the "City of God" and "City of Man" concepts
- The role of the church and human pilgrimage on Earth
- Analysis of dualism and Neoplatonic influences
- Augustine's perspective on statehood and politics
Excerpt from the Book
Civitas dei
The purpose of history is to complete the number of those who are predestined. Then the city of God will have returned to what it was in the beginning. Heaven is its origin, heaven its final destination.24
In the following passage we are trying to define the City of God and its origin.
“The City of God consists of those who glory in God and love God rightly. Its members are unified by their common love of God”.25
Augustine tends to directly compare both of his cities with each other: “Boni quipped ad hoc utuntur mundo, ut fruantur Deo; mali autem contra, ut fruantur mundo, uni volunt Deo (…)”.26 The good people – those who live in the civitates dei – are using the world in order to enjoy God, the others – the bad people (mali autem contra) – use God for their own sake and in order to enjoy the world.
We can recapture the argument mentioned above again and come back to the fact of love. Augustine distinguishes his two cities by two different kinds of love that are apparent. The civitate dei is determined by frui, the love of something for its own sake. This means that I love something not because it is in any way useful to me or my wellbeing. I love it because of its own sake, because it is there, regardless of the fact whether it might be useful to me or not.
Summary of Chapters
Introduction: This section outlines the essay's goal to explore the origins of Augustine's De civitate Dei and the historical background that motivated its creation.
Augustine’s life in the historical context: This chapter details Augustine's biography, his conversion to Christianity, and the impact of the fall of Rome on his intellectual development.
De Civitate Dei: This chapter examines the structure, themes, and specific objectives Augustine pursued in writing his 22-book work in response to Pagan allegations.
Civitas dei: This section defines the city of God as a transcendent society unified by love, contrasting it with the material world.
Foundation of the city of God and the city of Man: This chapter traces the conceptual origin of the two cities back to the creation of man and God’s prescience.
Humans/Saints and Angels: This section explores the hierarchy and composition of the cities, focusing on the relationship between angels and humans.
Humans on earth: This chapter discusses the earthly pilgrimage of believers who use the material world as an instrument for spiritual salvation.
City of God and Church: This section distinguishes between the transcendent city of God and the institutional Church on earth.
Civitas terrena: This chapter analyzes the City of Man as a finite, empirical entity originating from the fall of man.
The intertwined cities: This chapter examines how the two cities coexist and cooperate on earth despite their antagonistic natures.
Concept of dualism: This section evaluates the influence of Manichaeism and Neoplatonism on Augustine’s dualistic framework.
Stateism in Augustine’s thinking: This chapter addresses Augustine’s views on politics and the justification of the state.
Conclusion: The final section summarizes Augustine’s lasting impact on the theology of history and Western thought.
Keywords
Augustine, De civitate Dei, Civitas Dei, Civitas terrena, Christian history, Dualism, Manichaeism, Neoplatonism, Church, Pilgrimage, Fall of Rome, Theology, Stateism, Political philosophy, Faith.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core subject of this paper?
The paper examines the cognitive and historical motivations behind Augustine's writing of "De civitate Dei" and explores his central dualistic concepts.
What are the primary thematic fields covered?
The study covers the historical context of Rome's fall, the distinction between the city of God and the city of Man, and the philosophical roots of Augustine's thought.
What is the ultimate research objective?
The objective is to understand how Augustine developed his theory of two cities and how he justified the Christian worldview amidst a changing society.
Which scientific methodology is employed?
The essay uses a historical and interpretive analysis of Augustine's original texts, secondary theological literature, and sociological background research.
What content is addressed in the main body?
The main body treats the biographical context of Augustine, his definitions of the two cities, the concepts of dualism, the role of the Church, and his political philosophy.
Which keywords define this work?
The work is defined by terms like Civitas Dei, dualism, Neoplatonism, theology, pilgrimage, and historical progress.
How does Augustine define the "City of God"?
He defines it not as a physical city, but as a society of individuals unified by their love for God and their orientation toward the eternal hereafter.
What role does the "City of Man" play in history?
It represents the finite, empirical, and worldly society that will terminate after the Last Judgment.
How did Neoplatonism influence Augustine’s work?
It contributed to his dualistic framework, specifically in identifying the kingdom of God with the transcendent "mundus intelligibilis".
Does Augustine view the Church as identical to the City of God?
No, he differentiates the two, noting that the Church is a worldly institution containing both "bad" and "good" humans, whereas the city of God is a transcendent reality.
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- Thomas Hühne (Autor:in), 2012, Augustine and the city of God, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/195683
