St Augustine

Gabriel Christian V. Alava

Michael Jonathan V. Alava

University of the Philippines Manila

February 9, 2015

Historical context
His thoughts
On society
On politics
On sociology
Critical analysis
Impact and relevance
Integrating lecture

Section 1
Historical context

Born November 13, 354 in Thagaste to Patricius and St

Monica; Died August 28, 430 in Hippo

Studied Latin in Madaurus and Carthage

Had a 13-year affair with a Carthaginian, who bore his son

Adeodatus

Taught at Carthage, Rome, and Milan

Converted with his son by St Ambrose, bishop of Milan

Left for Hippo with his mother and son but returned alone

Started monastic life after; ordained in 391 and consecrated

bishop in 395.

Section 2
His thoughts

Subsection 1
On society

States
Origin
The state has been created by God as a punitive and equilibrant
instrument for the sinner that is mankind.

Nature
There is no ideal state because no state can emulate true justice,
which emanates from God alone.

Dynamics
No state can fully exact justice and, consequently, no state can
claim full legitimacy.

The two cities

Origin
There is the city of God and the city of earth.

Nature
The former consists of those who seek God in living venerable lives
and the latter consists of those who desire the temporal goods of
the earth.

Dynamics
The citizens of the former treat this life as what it
istemporaland, as such, they do not attach themselves to it,
unlike the citizens of the latter.

Subsection 2
On politics

Rulers
Origin
Rulers derive their authority from God just as he has created the
state that they rule.

Nature
Rulers are Gods ministers, through which he keeps order and
justice in the world.

Dynamics
Rulers, being vested with power by God, oblige their subjects to
obedience regardless of their reason, or lack thereof, unless they
contradict divine law.

Subsection 3
On sociology

Why wars happen

Origin
We all came from Adam and, as such, we all partake of his
sin.

Nature
We have a desire for power, authority, vanity, and other
vices.

Dynamics
We, as a result, try to conquer each other in search of these
temporal desires.

Just wars

Origin
The righteous live in the imperfect earthly city.

Nature
The righteous cannot avoid wars with the malevolent and, as such,
are justified in fighting them.

Dynamics
The righteous are obliged to subject themselves to the greater
political powers that govern them, even to the point of war.

Justice in war
Origin
War is an inevitable human condition that the righteous have to
live with.

Nature
However, the righteous, being righteous, have the duty to at least
minimize wars and the damage they cause.

Dynamics
The righteous may only wage war for the right reasons, such as
self-defense, retrieval of illicitly acquired possessions, rectifying the
enemies mistakes, etc. Moreover, war must be waged with the
restoration in peace in mind as endpoint.

Peace
Origin
There are two cities, each one with its own reasons for peace.
There are three kinds of peace, which all belong to the people of
God.

Nature
Peace between the citizens of the earthly city is selfish and is
meant only to acquire their desires. Unadulterate peace will never
be achieved in this life.

Dynamics
Peace will be nothing but periods of inactivity between wars, the
manifestation of mans violent nature. However, in order to
prevent their own destruction, they will also desire for peace.

Section 3
Critical analysis

Section 4
Impact and relevance

War

Justifying the use of force

I

During the Afghan war and associated US military efforts in

the Middle East

During martial law supposedly to quell communist insurgency

and destabilizing political figures

During the Estrada administration to suppress radical Muslim

insurgency in Mindanao

Section 5
Integrating lecture

Area of Concern
Society (ideal state)
Politics (ruler)
Sociology (citizens action)

Plato
Commonwealth
Philosopher king

Aristotle
Republic
Middle class

St Augustine
Does not exist on earth
Existent political structures
Obedience

Mattox, J. M. (n.d.). Augustine: Political and Social

Philosophy. In Internet Encyclopedia of the Internet. Retrieved
February 8, 2015, from http://www.iep.utm.edu/aug-poso/