Augustine and Politics (Augustine in Conversation: Tradition and Innovation) [Anglais] [Broché]

Augustine has long been a special study of mine; the 'Confessions' was one of the earliest books I read in my college career, and 'City of God' interested me in both political science and religious studies (I eventually took degrees in both). This book, 'Augustine and Politics', edited by John Doody, Kevin Hughes and Kim Paffenroth, seemed tailor-made to my interests, and I was not disappointed.

The overall arrangement of the book is done in three sections, broadly drawn. The first set of essays looks at 'Human Nature and Virtue in Relation to Politics'. Essays by Phillip Cary, Robert P. Kennedy, Kim Paffenroth, and David C. Schindler look at issues of social ontology, language, friendship relationships, and aspects of freedom, determinism beauty and goodness.

The second section of essays examines 'Augustine's Theory and Critique of Politics.' Authors Robert Dodaro, Michael Hanby, Kevin Hughes, Thomas Martin, and Thomas Smith contributed here. These essays address issues large and small, from civic engagement to household organisation, monastic-style communal arrangement and the transformative possibility of a political action driven by grace toward justice and peace.

The third set of essays develops 'Augustinian Influence and Perspectives'. Included here are writings by authors Todd Breyfogle, Louis Hamilton, Eugene McCarraher, and Paul Wright. This set of essays looks at later developments out of Augustine's political thought up to the present day. From influences on church development centuries later to Machiavellian appropriations and inspiration to modern contemporary politic frameworks (which often misread Augustine by attempting to force his writings and ideas into casts unfamiliar to Augustine).

One highlight for me was the essay by Paffenroth on Augustine's ideas of friendship: he relates these through Platonic, Ciceronian and Christian ideas, showing how the ideas weave together in ways to provide a strong framework. Friendship would seem to be something easy, but this is a deceptive view. Paffenroth draws on the character of Ivan in the Brothers Karamazov who writes that 'the people near one are the most difficult to love, for they inevitably change, disappoint, and even disgust.' The love-your-enemies idea of Christianity can present challenges, but those closer as friends have stronger power for destruction. 'There is a good reason why the story of Judas runs like a red thread through Christian theology, literature, folklore, and art: a hero being betrayed and destroyed by a friend is much more fascinating and meaningful than him being killed by an enemy.'

Overall, this collection offers valuable insight and intriguing ideas in the direction of Augustine and political philosophy and political theory. Augustine's works of 'Confessions' and 'City of God' are the primary but far from the only resources used here - Augustine's output was such that one is reminded of the statement by Isidore of Seville regarding Augustinian scholarship, even in his own day, that there was far too much for any one to master in every aspect. Perhaps it is with this in mind that the editors write in the introduction that 'these contributions together provide us not with a view of Augustine's politics, but, as the title of the series implies, a conversation with Augustine about politics.'

Of course, Augustine's purpose was not to be writing politics in the same manner as modern political theorists or philosophers, or even as ancient writers. There is significant difference between the intention of a work such as 'City of God' and Plato's 'Republic', for instance. The authors do draw in the theological issues attendant to Augustine's thought, but this thought is far from simple or un-nuanced in terms of relation to Christian concerns.

The essays included are well written and engaging, primarily aimed at an advanced undergraduate and graduate-level educated audience. Some knowledge of philosophy, political theory and Augustine is helpful for understanding these essays, but a mastery of 'City of God' and other politically-themed writings of Augustine are not prerequisites for understanding.

For the scholar, there are notes at the end of each chapter essay, and indices including a general subject index, a modern author index, an index of biblical citations, and an index of citations from Augustine's work, together with other ancient and medieval writers. There is also a general bibliography that is well done and reasonably up-to-date (any in-print bibliography will necessarily lack the most recent publications).

This book is part of a series; look for the recently published volume, 'Augustine and Literature', edited by Doody, Paffenroth and Robert P. Kennedy (with whom Paffenroth also published 'A Readers Companion to Augustine's "Confessions" ').