The City of God, Volume I

Augustine (Aurelius Augustine), Saint of Hippo · composed 413–426; published/issued in installments during composition primary

passage 253 of 449 · BOOK I. > BOOK EIGHTH. (6/37)

in brief

Augustine praises Plato as an Athenian who traveled to learn Egyptian and Italic/Pythagorean teachings, explains Socratic and Pythagorean emphases on active vs contemplative philosophy, and presents Plato’s threefold division: moral, natural, and rational.

whom all things are secure to us, let Him be discovered in whom all truth becomes certain to us, let Him be loved in whom all becomes right to us.

That it is especially with the Platonists that we must carry on our disputations on matters of theology, their opinions being preferable to those of all other philosophers.

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topics: education and the training of the young · reason and the intellect · religious persecution and toleration

The City of God, Volume I · Augustine (Aurelius Augustine), Saint of Hippo · 413–426