Augustine’s Philosophy: Evil, Happiness, and the Path to God
Augustine addresses the problem of evil, arguing that physical ailments and moral failings stem from improper human behavior. He rejects the Manichean idea of an evil god, emphasizing instead human free will (liber arbitrium) as the source of evil. Unlike the Manicheans, who posited dualistic principles of good and evil, Augustine asserts that God is the sole, ultimate good.
He critiques hedonistic philosophies that equate good with pleasure, particularly material pleasures. Augustine argues that true happiness is found in God, an eternal and inexhaustible source, contrasting this with the fleeting and ultimately unsatisfying nature of material pleasures. He cautions against selfish pursuits of pleasure that can cause harm to others.
Augustine believes that true happiness is found in knowing God. This knowledge, he argues, leads to a happiness that is eternal. He contrasts this with Epicurean eudaimonia, which he sees as ultimately unsatisfying due to its reliance on perishable goods. He emphasizes free will, contrasting his view with the deterministic views of the Stoics.
Philosophy, for Augustine, is a systematic and methodical pursuit of knowledge, applicable to all areas of human experience. His philosophical approach, influenced by Plato and the Stoics, shifts the focus from cosmology to anthropology, with ontology as the starting point. Augustine’s philosophical journey can be divided into three periods: his early involvement with Manichaeism, his encounter with skepticism, and his eventual embrace of Christian theology.
Augustine integrates philosophy and religion, using philosophy to reinforce his religious beliefs. He initially sought truth through reasoning (Intellige ut credas), but skepticism led him to embrace faith as a means of understanding (credas intellige ut), finding solutions to many problems through belief.
Augustine utilizes Plato’s dialectic, viewing it as a method for recalling innate knowledge of the soul (anamnesis). However, he diverges from Plato by asserting that God illuminates our minds with knowledge and ideas. While both use dialectic to approach truth, Plato sees it as the highest form, while Augustine sees God as the ultimate source of truth.