Aurelius Augustine - theologian, philosopher, educator. He made a significant contribution to the formation of medieval philosophy and culture. The work of Augustine the Blessed is associated with a period of schism in the Christian Church into Orthodox and Catholic. The memory of Aurelius Augustine is equally celebrated by representatives of Western and Eastern Christianity.
Biography of Aurelius Augustine
Theologian and philosopher Aurelius Augustine was born in 354 into the family of a provincial official. The philosopher's mother, the religious Christian Monica, had a tremendous influence on him. Augustine's father professed idolatry. The birthplace of Aurelius is the small African city of Tagast, located on the territory of modern Algeria. The family had three children, but only the future philosopher could get an education. The provincial official did not have enormous wealth, and in order to give the children the opportunity to study, the parents had to borrow money.
Aurelius Avgut studied basic knowledge of grammar and arithmetic at home. Then he was educated in Carthage on the course of rhetoric. After graduating from the schools of rhetoric, Augustine remains to teach this course in Carthage. Despite the deeply religious Christian Monica, Aurelius himself led an idle lifestyle, but the instructions of his mother helped him get back on the right path.
During his life in Carthage, Aurelius studied the works of Cicero, which made him want to study philosophy. During this period, Augustine wrote his first philosophical book. However, this work of the philosopher has not survived to this day. The first reading of Christian teachings did not arouse interest in the future philosopher. Augustine did not agree with the primitive language and thinking of Scripture, so he switched to a specific perception and interpretation of the Bible. At the age of 28, Aurelius left for Rome and became a supporter of the Manichean doctrine. After meeting with the spiritual mentor of the Manichaeans, Augustine abandoned this teaching and began to lean towards skepticism.
Augustine changed his religious views after meeting the monk Ambrose, who was able to change the ideas and interests of the young scientist and persuade him to Christianity. In 387, Aurelius was baptized and converted to the Christian faith.
Philosophical teachings of Augustine the Blessed
The works of the famous philosopher are of particular importance. His philosophical doctrine was formed under the influence of many different factors. A huge role in the formation of Augustine as a scientist and theologian was played by his passion for various religious views. He penned many works, both religious and secular philosophical orientation.
The philosophy of Aurelius was formed under the influence of his mother Monica, therefore his teaching is a synthesis of philosophy, religion and divine predestination. After the adoption of Christianity, many negative responses about Manichaeism and skepticism appeared in the writings of Aurelius. Augustine writes a philosophical treatise in which he criticizes academics and opposes heretics.
The scientist's philosophy is based on several principles. He talks about the interaction of reason and faith, and their influence on the formation of a person. As a true theologian, Aurelius said that only the mutual influence of reason and faith can lead a person to the city of God. Moreover, each believer needs to choose his own path. Relying on pure reason can help some, while faith based on external authority can help others.
Another principle of Augustine's philosophy is to perceive God not as an absolute impersonal spirit, but as a person. This perception of God drew the line between divine predestination and destiny.
The most famous work of the philosopher is considered the treatise "On the City of God", in which the principles of the religious and philosophical teachings of Augustine the Blessed were set forth in thirty books.
At the beginning of this work, Aurelius speaks about the reasons for the fall of the Roman Empire, about the fact that the Christian world was mired in vices and sin, and therefore could not exist in the future. In five volumes, the doctrine of the contradiction between the Christian and pagan faiths is set forth, the rest of the books talk about the relationship between secular and spiritual power. The whole world, according to Augustine, is divided into two parts: the city of God and the city of the Earth. The first is inhabited by the righteous, acting on the basis of moral ethical standards. They live according to divine commandments. In another world, people live who are focused on earthly morality, therefore they live in vice and with love for themselves. Aurelius Augustine described this world as a constant struggle between good and evil.
Study of society and history
Augustine's philosophical views were not limited to religious views. The scientist also thought about the development of society, about social inequality and poverty. He believed that man himself is the crown of his happiness, so he cannot blame anyone for his ignorance. The very social division, the division of society into rich and poor, is a necessary condition for social life. Aurelius argued that the equation in wealth is impossible to achieve. Inequality will always exist as long as human society exists. However, Augustine reassured people, declaring that a poor person will always live according to his conscience and receive complete freedom of action, and the rich will forever remain a slave to money.
Aurelius Augustine in his work "On the City of God" speaks of the fundamental equality of the rich and the poor before God, urging them to live in peace and harmony. The philosophy of St. Augustine was an attempt to explain the unity of world history. In the conditions of the medieval development of society, the destruction of the Western Roman Empire, the philosophical teachings of Augustine led to the growth of the authority of the Roman Catholic Church. Therefore, during the Western European Middle Ages, the figure of the theologian acquired great authority.
