Saint Augustine's Era: Christian Philosophy and the Fall of Rome

The Dawn of Christian Philosophy: From Paganism to Patristics

The abandonment of pagan classical civilization, coupled with the final fall of Rome just fifty years after the death of Saint Augustine, ushered in a new historical epoch intellectually dominated by Christianity. It is within this philosophical context that the new prominence of Christian thought is best understood.

Initially, Christianity confronted paganism in a series of intellectual and sometimes violent struggles. These conflicts ultimately led to the definitive success of the new religion, as demonstrated by the closing of the Platonic Academy and other Greek philosophical schools in the early sixth century.

However, Christianity did not entirely reject classical philosophy. Instead, through the Church Fathers (Patristics), it sought a synthesis with Greek philosophy. This is evident in Plato's profound influence on Saint Augustine, which helped to forge a new theoretical framework for Christianity. This period also initiated the fight against so-called heresies, such as Gnosticism and Arianism.

Patristics also engaged in a profound reflection on the relationship between reason and faith. This evolved from the idea of absolute submission of reason to faith, as advocated by Tertullian, to a relationship of mutual dependence between them, as defended by Saint Augustine.

Historical Context: Saint Augustine and the Late Roman Empire

The philosophical work of Saint Augustine developed during the late fourth century AD and the first half of the fifth century. This was a time marked by several pivotal events:

• The final division between the Western Roman Empire and the East, following the death of Emperor Theodosius in the late fourth century.
• The ultimate decline of the Roman Empire in the West, exacerbated by barbarian invasions.

The Visigoths, led by Alaric, famously sacked Rome, the empire's capital, in 410 AD. After Saint Augustine's death, the Western Roman Empire finally fell in 476 AD. Cities began a slow decadence, marking the start of a period where the rural world gained importance, culminating later in feudalism. It was, therefore, a period characterized by a profound crisis of the classical world and the beginning of the Middle Ages.

Among the new elements, the ultimate triumph of Christianity stands out. Founded in the first century by Jesus of Nazareth and theorized by Saint Paul, Christianity transformed from a Jewish sect to the main religion of the Empire within approximately four centuries. This process gained critical importance in the fourth century with:

• Constantine's Edict of Milan in 313 AD, which allowed for Christian worship.
• Emperor Theodosius's Edict of Thessalonica in the late fourth century, which established Christianity as the official religion of the Empire.