Augustine of Hippo: Integrating Faith and Reason

Augustine of Hippo: Philosophy and Faith

With the advent of Christianity, philosophy acquired a new dimension. The object of reflection shifted focus from physis (nature) to God. This created a distinction in reality: a superior, primary reality, the Creator of all known things, and the created reality, which is contingent.

Challenges in Early Christian Philosophy

Christianity emerged as a doctrine peculiar to the lower social classes. This lack of formal training presented a significant difficulty for various thinkers in developing a comprehensive philosophical theory of Christianity. Consequently, they adopted structured classical philosophical theories, adapting them to be compatible with Christian doctrine.

Augustine's Philosophical Approach

Augustine was not a philosopher in the strict sense, because his philosophical approach never led him to define reason as separate from faith. His philosophical task was to integrate philosophy with Christian doctrine. This task was not straightforward. Why? Because, unlike the classical world, Augustine's philosophy speaks of God and a perfect, divine world.

Key Concepts in Augustine's Thought

• Nativism: Augustine accepted nativism, but he believed that the soul is created, not eternal, and that knowledge is received directly from God.
• Divine Illumination: According to Augustine, humanity can know the truth found in God, and God Himself illuminates the human mind, preparing it for the reception of new knowledge (divine illumination).
• Knowledge of God: Augustine speaks of a specific method for knowing God. A key difference from Plato is that Augustine raised the issue of faith, which was not contemplated by Plato.

The Interplay of Reason and Faith

Augustine proposed that the best way to make Christianity intelligible is through the interplay of two faculties: reason and faith. He articulated this relationship as follows:

1. Reason leads to faith.
2. Faith later points to reason.
3. Reason helps to understand the truths of faith.

Premises of Augustine's Approach

This approach is based on the following premises:

1. There is only one truth, which has been revealed by God to humanity. This truth is found in Christianity.
2. Christianity is a doctrine about God, the soul, and the world, which can be understood by humanity.
3. The human mind, through an effort towards divine knowledge, reaches truth, always transcending mere perceptual knowledge.