In this episode, we meet Augustine of Hippo, the fourth century rhetorician, bishop, philosopher, ethicist, African. Part 1 situates Augustine in his cultural, religious, and historical context(s). In part 2, we dive into Augustine’s philosophical leanings. In part 3, we talk about Augustine’s theology/ethics/philosophy of desire. The episode concludes with a meditation on letting our minds be changed. Voice work by Amiel Wayne. Theme music by Alex Mrakovich.
Map of Roman Empire/North Africa: http://www.emersonkent.com/map_archive/roman_empire_4th.htm
{00:32} From Peter Brown’s Augustine of Hippo: A Biography. Brown is the premier scholar of Late Roman Antiquity.
{09:20} A timeline of Augustine’s life vis-a-vis Western Christian history: https://tinyurl.com/2vt3rvdf
{12:54} The City of God against the Pagans (De civitate Dei contra paganos) https://www.gutenberg.org/files/45304/45304-h/45304-h.htm
{13:29} Anthony J. Chvala-Smith, “Augustine of Hippo” in Empire and the Christian Tradition, edited by Kwok Pui Lan.
{14:45}For more on Augustine’s ties to Neoplatonism, see: https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/augustine/#PhilTradAuguPlat
{18:55} From Confessions, Book 3, chapter 8.
{19:17} Debauch. (De-bock?)
{21:42} This section is based on several sources including, but certainly not limited to: Feminist Interpretations of Augustine, edited by Judith Stark; Rereading Historical Theology and Desire and Delight, both by Margaret R. Miles, Elizabeth’s Clark collection of Augustine’s writings on sex and marriage; the City of God and Confessions by Augustine.
{22:14} Dan in Real Life: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0480242
Note: I’m using romantic and sexual desire here as my example, but just like Augustine did not limit his ideas to sex, neither should we. You can certainly desire wrong things that have nothing to do with sex or bodies, even.
{29:40} "We are what we look upon and what we desire." Plotinus, Ennead.
{31:22} Concupiscence: strong sexual desire, lust.
{31:23} Cupiditas: desire, lust, passion. (Think: Cupid!)
{31:24} “Being weak, babies’ bodies are harmless, but babies’ minds aren’t harmless.” Confessions, Book 1, chapter 13.
{36:38} It’s not just wiggling the ears that Augustine uses as an analogy for controlling the genitals: “We do in fact find among human beings some individuals with natural abilities very different from the rest of mankind and remarkable by their very rarity. … A number of people produce at will such musical sounds from their behind (without any stink) that they seem to be singing from that region.” City of God, Book 114, chapter 24.
{37:26} As Augustine most famously wrote, “Our heart is restless until it rests in you.” Confessions, Book 1, chapter 1.
{42:57} I slip and call Brown “Peter”—we’re on a first-name basis. <3
{42:59} Peter Brown, Augustine of Hippo: A Biography, 445.
{43:46} This is not a Divjak letter, actually, but letter 263. The sentiment Brown expresses still applies. https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/1102263.htm
{44:03} From Augustine’s Sermon 356.
Check out Amiel’s work here: http://amielhartwayne.wordpress.com
