Origin of the Soul in st Augustine's Later Works

Robert O'Connell

ISBN 10: 082321172X / ISBN 13: 9780823211722

Edité par Fordham University Press, 1987

A propos de cet article

This book rounds off the study of St. Augustine's view of the human condition which Fr. O'Connell began in St. Augustine's Early Theory of Man, A.D. 386-391, and continued in St. Augustine's Confessions: The Odyssey of Soul. The central thesis of that first book, and the guiding hypothesis of the second, proposed that Augustine thought of us in "Plotinian" terms, as "fallen souls," and that he interpreted, in all sincerity, the teachings of Scripture as reflecting that same view. O'Connell sees the weightiest objection to his proposal as stemming from what scholars generally agree is Augustine's firm rejection of that view in his later works. The central contention here is that Augustine did indeed reject his earlier theory, but only for a short while. He came to see the text from Romans 9, 11 as apparently compelling that rejection. But then his firm belief that all humans are guilty of original sin would have left him traducianism as his only acceptable way of understanding the origin of sinful human souls. The materialistic cast of traducianism, however, always repelled Augustine. Hence, he struggles to elaborate a fresh interpretation of Romans 9,11, and eventually he finds one that permits him to return to a slightly revised version of his earlier view. That theory, O'Connell argues, is encased in both the De Civitate Dei and the final version of the De Trinitate. 363 pp. Contents; The De libero arbitrio III -- All quiet on the African front -- The Pelagians raise the question of the soul -- Augustine continues to hesitate -- Augustine "consults" Jerome : Letter 166 -- Letters 169 to 174 : progress on the De Trinitate -- The message of Romans 9:11 takes effect -- The soul in the De Genesi ad litteram -- The De Trinitate -- The condition and destiny of humanity in the De civitate Dei. Subjects; Augustine of Hippo, Saint 354-430. Bible. Romans, IX, 11 Criticism, interpretation, etc. History Early church, ca. 30-600. Soul Christianity History of doctrines Early church, ca. 30-600. Theological anthropology. 1 Kg. O'Connell begins with a minute analysis of the third book of the De Libero Arbitrio, then of the letters and works ostensibly supporting rival chronological patterns which he must overturn in order to make his case. Finally, in the light of his findings, he offers fresh interpretations of Augustine's three mature masterpieces, On Genesis, The Trinity, and City of god. These, along with Fr. O'Connell's contention that Augustine's anti-Pelagian De Peccatorum Meritis et Remissione must have seen publication no earlier than A.D. 416/17, will doubtless fuel scholarly debate for some time to come. Indeed, Pelagianism made the question of the soul's origin so pivotal for Augustine, that few of our current interpretations of Augustine are likely to remain unaffected by the results of O'Connell's searching and provocative study. ex libris stamp.

N° de réf. du vendeur ABE-1746121867045

Détails bibliographiques

• Titre: Origin of the Soul in st Augustine's Later Works
• Éditeur: Fordham University Press
• Date de parution: 1987
• Langue: anglais
• ISBN à 10 chiffres: 082321172X
• ISBN à 13 chiffres: 9780823211722
• Reliure: Hardcover
• Édition: 1st Edition
• État de l'article: Fine
• État de la jaquette: Near Fine
• Poids: 2 livres

A propos de ce titre

Synopsis

This book rounds off Robert O'Connell's study of St. Augustine's view of the human condition, begun is St. Augustine's Early Theory of Man, A.D. 386-391, and continued in St. Augustine's Confessions: The Odyssey of Soul. The central thesis of the first book, and guiding hypothesis of the second, proposed that Augustine thought of us, in "Plotinian" terms, as "fallen souls," and that in all sincerity he interpreted the teachings of Scripture as reflecting that same view. Professor O'Connell sees the weightiest objection to his proposition as stemming from what scholars generally agree to be Augustine's firm rejection of that view in his later works.

The central contention in this new book is that Augustine did indeed object his earlier theory, but only for a short time. He came to see the text of Romans 9:11, apparently, as compelling that rejection. But, then, his firm belief that all humans are guilty of Original Sin would have left traducianism as his only acceptable way of understanding the origin of sinful human souls. The materialistic cast of traducianism, however, always repelled Augustine. Hence, he struggles to elaborate a fresh interpretation of Romans 9:11, and he eventually finds one that permits him to return to a slightly revised version of his earlier view. That theory, Professor O'Connell argues, is encased in both the De civitate Dei and the final version of De Trinitate.

À propos de l'auteur

Robert J. O'Connell, S. J. was a Professor of Philosophy at Fordham University. His has five publications on St. Augustine, as well as several studies of Plato, William James, and Teilhard de Chardin. In 2015 he established the O'Connell established the O'Connell Initiative at Fordham, a forum for intellectual exploration, that brought together scholars of every aspect of capitalism.