Augustine's Confessions
Choose a passage in Augustine's Confessions (click here) and analyze it by using the theme of faith and reason as your central focal point. What role does faith (theology/religion) play in the passage? What role does reason(philosophy/logic) play? Are faith and reason both being used? Be sure to cite what passage you are analyzing and your analysis should be minimum of 7-8 sentences. Complete analysis in comments section of this post.
Chapter VI, paragraph 10 ( "I give thanks to thee... Communicated to others.")
ReplyDeleteThe role natural law plays in this passage is important. It attempts to communicate the need for others in order to gain knowledge by when it states "for thou hast granted to man that he should come to self-knowledge through the knowledge of others." This quote emphasizes the use of collaboration with others to exchange ideas and learn. The role that reason plays is not necessarily directly stated, but one can infer that reason plays a different part in every person, depending on who you associate with and how you were as an infant and what you learned then. Natural law and reason are both being used and are connected in order to come about to a greater conclusion. Natural law will essentially depend on how much reason one has, as if you associate with others or are to worried on yourself. If one is worried about themselves, their reason will be minimal and less then one who is associating and exchanging ideas with others. Those who express and collaborate their opinions are better off than those who are quiet and silent.
Book 1 chapter 13 paragraph 21
ReplyDeleteThe passage talks about God being a superior power above the natural person, the power that controls our mind, thoughts, and soul. Our mind and soul is being controlled by a higher being, we have no dominant control over these things, but rather the unmoved mover is the power that utilizes our faith and reason. Faith and reason are both being used through God being the power that controls our mind, body, and soul. The soul is moved dominantly by the high power of God. Likewise our soul is being moved by this same superior power. This involves our faith through God and reason thought the mind and soul.
Book two - Chapter VII
ReplyDeleteAugustine acknowledges God as the true and one forgivernof sin. He admits that some wrongdoings he committed he was not sorry for, for he knew they were evil and still did them. He doesn't understand why people subscribe to confessions and come to God when they only do it for the love of God. Philosophically he is saying it is unreal to ask God for forgiveness if they don't even see the legitimacy in their sin. Some people do not acknowledge sin in their actions but still ask God for love and mercy. They do not want to come off as weak or simple by prescribing to a God for an answer in their own actions. Having faith in God leads to real truth in Augstines eyes.
book 2 chapter 4
ReplyDeleteHe talks about how he would pick pears of the forbidden fruit, take a bite, and then feed the rest to the hogs. He talks about how great of a feeling he got, he said he loved it. I think it is talking more about reason because humans will want to do something more if you tell them not to. But he went to God to ask for forgiveness which could resemble faith in God.
Book 6 Chapter 12 Paragraph 21 "Actually, it was Alypius.... and free feet might be entangled."
ReplyDeleteIn this paragraph, Augustine describes one of his reasons for not marrying. Augustine was told that marriage would end up destroying the bond between Augustine and wisdom because of the time which must be put forth when married. Augustine tried to challenge Alypius's view by describing some people who were married but still found time for wisdom. However, Augustine understands that his soul is not as pure as those who could juggle both marriage and wisdom. This section describes the delicate balance between faith and reason. Augustine must use faith in God in order to go through with marriage even though there is the chance that it could ruin his journey towards knowledge. Augustine must also use his need for knowledge as a reason to no go through with the sacrament of marriage.
Book 7 passage 8
ReplyDeleteThe role of faith is shown when it speaks of how readily one is healed by the lord both physically and mentally. The passage speaks of Gods mercy in us and our ashes which most likely means the living and the dead which shows his faith in God that mercy will continue to be given to those worthy. It states that they were healed by the wholesome salve of his own sorrowful grief. Reason and logos are not presented very much in this passage although he does show logic when he thinks that he will be saved by Gods mercy. Philosophy is shown when he states that his healing medicine is his own sorrowful grief. Faith and reason are both being used although faith is being used more so than logic but logic is there non the less. St.Augustine is using his faith to justify the cleansing of his barbaric ways which is were we get the salve of sorrowful grief from. Logic is more so only used in a sense of this event happening before so why would it not happen again.
Book 13 Chapter 3 "Now what thou....thy own blessedness." We can see the religious aspect of the passage when Augustine speaks on the light. Like in genesis "Let there be light," and correlates to the spiritual side of humans. I also think that Augustine was saying that from enlightenment, there is the light and from the light there is God. This leading to the inward turn towards God, and is evident in his own life from partying to a thirst for knowledge. In this section faith is the main point in Augustine's confession. However, Philosophy can be closely linked to the idea that life is derived from something, and may turn into light(good), and come from something that just exists. The conclusion can be that humans need God, and exist because of God. Also that the light and creation is key to help us turn back to God.
ReplyDeleteBook 3 Chapter 12 Paragraph 12. In this paragraph he talks about how grateful he is for the one who created infants. He praises the one who created such beautiful bodies in which we all live in individually. He gives thanks to the one the Lord for giving these bodies the endowed vital energies and well being health. It comes to reason when he talks about if he should believe what he is told of where he came from and how he was came to creation if he himself is ignorant to this coming. Where he recalls no such memories yet is told to believe. They both come into their roles when he questions which whether idea to believe is to be true. Where faith and reason coincide.
ReplyDeleteChapter VI, paragraph 10 ( "I give thanks to thee... Communicated to others.")
ReplyDeleteNatural Law is very stressed to Augustine in this passage. The passage shows how we need other in order to gain knowledge "for thou hast granted to man that he should come to self-knowledge through the knowledge of others."
Reason and it role is not stressed in the passage though, however one can guess that reason has to relate to how one learns. Natural law and reason work together into order to help one come to a better understanding of life. Natural law for each person is effected by their reason, whether they are self-centered or meek. Someone who is self-centered has reason, but compared to a person who is meek, it is barely there.
Book 8 Chapter 9
ReplyDeleteIn this chapter, Augustine uses more of a reason viewpoint than he uses a faith viewpoint. He is contemplating how the soul can commmnd the body but only the body can fully do the action. He is using reason to figure this out. He says that in order for our soul to also participate in the action, we need to rely on a higher power to drive us.This is where the faith viewpoint comes in. He is saying that by God's will, we will be able to wholly do what we want.
Chapter 6, paragraph 10 ( "I give thanks to thee... Communicated to others.")
ReplyDeleteThe role natural law plays in this passage is crucial. It attempts to communicate the need of others in order to gain knowledge. The role that reason plays is not directly stated, but it can be inferred that reason plays a different part in every person. Natural law and reason are both being used in order to come to a greater conclusion. Natural law will essentially depend on how much reason one has, as if you associate with others or are too worried about yourself. If one is worried about themselves, their reason will be minimal and less then one who is associating with others. Those who express and collaborate their opinions are better off than those who are quiet and silent.
Book 1 chapter 19
ReplyDeleteAs a child Augustine did not follow or know the love of God. None forced him to believe in God and he did not care but he wished someone forced him to learn. Although some who believed in God or religions in general were shameful and desired rich beggary. As kids are young they still are great sinners but they will not go unpunished. Thus people should learn to punish themselves so that you can have the self gratification to teach yourself.
Book1 Chapter 1
ReplyDeleteFaith plays a role in this passage because it talks about how all people want to worship God. Reason is also present in this passage because it says that all people no matter how proud want to worship God. Faith and reason work hand in hand in this passage because the end is result is the worshipping of God.
Chapter XI , paragraph 2
ReplyDeleteIn this passage , faith and reason is being used. Faith plays a role in the boy. The boy acknowledges God as his father before his earthly father. Reason is that God is the superior to everything. "For it was her desire, O my God, that I should acknowledge thee as my father rather than him." She realized God needs to be her main priority. God provides all her needs and wants.
Chapter XI
ReplyDeleteIn this book we're given the imagery of a boy viewing God as his true father. The boys human father is not viewed as his true father by him. God is his one true father.
VII
God is highlighted as the one true forgiver of sins. God is the ultimate decision-maker. In being so, he is the one who will absolve men of their sins.
Chapter VII: Book XVII
ReplyDeleteAugustine begins this selection with how he was disappointed in himself for seeing the beautiful God but still choosing to turn away from Him. He was more secularly based than spiritual. His faith was based in God but his inner self was not. Faith was a large part of this passage because that is what led Augustine's life and decisions in life. His body was corrupt which did not go with his faith and that is why he was frustrated with himself. Faith plays the largest part in this selection because Augustine relied mainly on his faith to control his life.
Book 1 Chapter 13
ReplyDeleteIn this chapter, we can see the relationship between ourselves and God. Both the roles faith and reason play in explaining what Augustine believes. Faith is used to explain what Augustine believes such as his belief in God. Reason is used to explain why Augustine believes what he believes. Again, we can use Augustine's belief in God as an example. Faith wise, Augustine believes there is a God and it is supreme. Reason wise, Augustine believes that there is a God because there has to be a first cause to everything.
Book 1 Chapter 1
ReplyDelete"Great art thou, O Lord, and greatly to be praised; great is thy power, and infinite is thy wisdom."
This statement shows how Augustine acknowledges God as the highest power. Faith and reason play a role in this statement because Augustine first believes in God , by devoting yourself to God you believe in all that he can do. Reason plays a theme behind this statement because of the argument that "something cant come from nothing ." God created the world the everything in just 7 days which is an example of his power. God's wisdom and power is the nature of the world we live, for example the solar system. Earth is located in the solar system where the earth isn't too hot or too cold making Earth perfectly inhabitable for humans. God has given us all the tools from the beginning of time to survive on Earth. Faith is being used to show the belief that there is an almighty power above us that we call on to worship. Reason is used because we can observe everything around us and understand why it was put there/here. Augustine uses an example that uses both when he says but "how shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? Or how shall they believe without a preacher? "