City of God

Question 1

When did Augustine live?

Answer 1

354-430 CE

Question 2

Who were his Parents?

Answer 2

A Christian woman and a pagan man

Question 3

What did he write?

Answer 3

City of God, Confessions

Question 4

Augustine’s early career

Answer 4

Ancient philosophical views (Must stay on straight path and not give into temptation)

Question 5

Mid-career

Answer 5

Humans cannot stay of the path, people will screw up, we can’t push way every temptation

Question 6

City of God

Answer 6

Can’t escape the wretchedness of this life; Should pursue happiness that will come in the next life; Virtues will not make you happy

Question 7

Argument that he did not think pagan virtues were vices

Answer 7

Says virtues are not good for their own sake, real virtues help you to be more dependent on God, independence is faulty, Pagan virtues try to make you independent but this is impossible; Pagan virtues have a mixture of pride and come through your own effort, leading to a good and easy life but vice is never not present

Question 8

Vice is never not present

Answer 8

Vice is aways opposing any present virtue, we cannot attain victory without God, there is a constant struggle against the vices and living in virtue is more of a struggle than caving into vices. The best life we can live is to live against and struggle against the vices. Secular version of this view is that we are always dependent on others