His Theory of Knowledge: Augustine is probablyone of the best loved Saints outside CatholicismBy Retreat Director

A  key  &igure  in  the  early  Christian  Church.     He   became   an   eminent  theologian   and   proli&ic   author,  and   as   such   is   one   of   the   four  Latin  Doctors  of   the   Church.    We  know   a   lot   about   him   from   his,  Confessions,   sometimes   termed  the   earliest   autobiography   in  Western  literature.    

Born in Tagaste in today’s Algeria,

354, he received a Christian

upbringing from Monica his

mother (also a saint). But he was

not baptized until he was an

adult. He studied rhetoric and

philosophy and became a lawyer,

scholar and teacher later in Rome

and Milan. He also lived for 15

years with a mistress, by whom

he had a much-loved son. After

prolonged internal conflict,

however, he was converted

through the influence of St.

Ambrose. Returning from Italy to

Africa in 388, he was ordained a

priest in 391. He became bishop

of Hippo in 396 and died in 430.

A u g u s t i n e ’s a p p r o a c h t o

knowledge - consider problems

of the Christian Religion in his

time, & understand these through

his experiences in life. He saw

the solutions to his problems to

be knowledge, placed in his

mind by Wisdom as the gift of

God. Allowing that God created

the universe, it would be quite

reasonable to expect that God

incorporated within Creation a

method for intelligent individuals

to communicate with him.

SAINTAUGUSTINEFOCUSLord Jesus, our Saviour, let us come to you.

Our hearts are cold; Lord, warm them with your selfless love.

Our hearts are sinful; cleanse them with your precious blood.

Our hearts are weak; strengthen them with our joyous Spirit.

Our hearts are empty; fill them with your divine presence. Lord Jesus, our hearts are yours; possess them always and only for yourself.

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AUGUSTINE’S PRAYER TO THE HOLY SPIRIT

Breathe in me, O Holy Spirit, that my thoughts may all be holy. 

Act in me, O Holy Spirit, that my work, too, may be holy. 

Draw my heart, O Holy Spirit, that I love but what is holy. 

Strengthen me, O Holy Spirit, to defend all that is holy. 

Guard me, then, O Holy Spirit, that I always may be holy. 

Amen

The solution is a truthful idea placed in the mind by God. God is understood in this context as Wisdom, or the Holy Spirit. The form may be extended to: Problem > Correct problem understanding > The Holy Spirit > Solution = Knowledge. The problem as correctly understood is translated into a solution in the form of truthful ideas, the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit gives all knowledge, but only in response to requisitions for problem solutions. This claim appears in Christian scripture. Augustine’s claim that we learn directly from God the Interior Master, is in accord with Scriptures. The Gospel of John - states the teaching of Jesus that the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything (John 14:26). God the Holy Spirit teaches the faithful about God through intellectual enlightenment. the holy Spirit teaches

all knowledge. With each problem he solved his understanding of the truth was expanded and improved. In this model of intellect, expanding understanding of the truth is the subjective philosophy committed to its own truthful development follows the path of faith seeking understanding. God teaches every individual who wants to know the truth. Incorrect problem understandings will however produce false solutions, which agrees with common experience. Error is better than confusion, and false solutions may be seen as a stage on the path to truth, since their shortcomings will become apparent in later experience.

Problem - Solution = Knowledge The problemproduces a solution seen as knowledge.

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of what is and is not knowledge and of the method by which knowledge is , or can be, achieved.

T h i s i n a b i l i t y t o d e fi n e knowledge has led to disputes with some radical critics counter claiming e.g. that science is a kind of myth. For Augustine Fa i t h & R e a s o n a r e n o t p s y ch o l o g i c a l l y s e p a r a t e activities that can be exercised independently. Faith & Reason are necessary elements of knowledge.

Knowledge is not to be sought for its own sake; instead, man should seek knowledge so that through it he may attain true happiness. The view is not that knowledge wi l l make the attainment of happiness easier but that the knowledge of absolute truth is a necessary condition for happiness.

The path of knowledge leads upwards. Augustine conceived of God as both the source of human existence and the goal of human

knowledge. He distinguishes two kinds of knowledge, that acquired through the ratio superior he

called wisdom sapientia, and that acquired through the lower reason was called science or knowledge scientia. Scientia u s e s t h e m e t h o d o f investigation, but wisdom uses intuition.

Scientia is sought primarily because the lack of knowledge frustrates our efforts to do one

thing or another, e.g. cure cancer. T h e e n d o f s a p i e n t i a i s contemplation. The ultimate goal

of wisdom is godliness, the worship of God which alone can bring true blessedness.

O thou, who art the light of the minds that know thee, the life of the souls that love thee, and the strength of the wills that serve thee; help us so to know thee that we may truly love thee; so to love thee that we may fully serve thee, whom to serve is perfect freedom.Augustine

Watch, dear Lord, with those who wake, or watch, or weep tonight, and let your angels protect those who sleep.  Tend the sick.  Refresh the weary.   Sustain the dying.   Calm the suffering.   Pity the distressed.  We ask this for the sake of your love.Augustine