Explorations in Augustine's Anthropology

Introduction

Augustine of Hippo’s views are entirely embedded in the domains of anthropology. In relation to his personal pursuit of truth, as poignantly described in the Confessiones, the meaning of the human existence is examined throughout his writings under a variety of perspectives. Thus, anyone willing to grasp the features of his anthropological thoughts needs to be prepared to track a winding path. A path that is simultaneously devious and marvelous in its manifold expressions.

Generally, it can be said that such a multifaceted anthropology is the outcome of both Augustine’s distinctive biography and the philosophical and theological conflicts in which he was involved from youth to old age. Such concrete events profoundly shaped his understanding and his experience of what it means to be human.

Even with the definitive episode of his conversion into Christianity, the pursuit for the most fundamental questions on human being did not diminish. Quite the opposite, it only amplified his eagerness towards understanding the human existence as deeply as possible, under impression of the Christian faith. Henceforth, he would come to deal with the foremost themes of Christianity at that time, such as creation, incarnation, Trinity, resurrection, the free will, original sin, so as to uncover these themes’ significance for the comprehension of the human being.

Thus, the task of reflecting on Augustine’s anthropology demands a relentless effort. In fact, the complexity and the manifoldness of its expressions bring about almost insurmountable difficulties to anyone who intends to attain a systematic account of it. The divergences which result both from the maturation of his thoughts and from the different theological themes and conflicts he had to handle cannot be set aside. It is the breeding ground of his anthropology. Therefore, in order to unveil the intersecting point which allows us to connect the several faces of such an anthropology, one needs to embrace the richness of its manifold expressions.

Not surprisingly, this diversity is mirrored in the wide range of themes brought to the table by the authors in this volume.

First, Fabio Dalpra investigates the Platonic influence on one of the cornerstones of Early Christian anthropology, i.e., the concept of participation as it is expressed by Origen of Alexandria and Augustine of Hippo.

In sequence, shedding light on the anthropology in Augustine’s early works, Ivan Bilheiro reflects on the effect of the skeptical doubt on human existence according to Augustine’s first extant work, Contra academicos; Lenka Karfikova investigates the meaning and function of the soul in the ←9 | 10→dialogue De quantitate animae; and Humberto Quaglio discusses Christ’s role as in De magistro. These articles all show how intensively Augustine in the first years after his conversion and baptism strives to formulate Christian theology including theological anthropology by use of philosophical traditions especially Platonism.