Augustine's Intellectual Conversion
The Journey from Platonism to Christianity

This book examines Augustine's intellectual conversion from Platonism to Christianity, as described at Confessions 7.9.13–21.27.

Brian Dobell (Author)

9780521513395, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 5 November 2009

270 pages
22.9 x 15.2 x 1.9 cm, 0.57 kg

This book examines Augustine's intellectual conversion from Platonism to Christianity, as described at Confessions 7.9.13–21.27. It is widely assumed that this occurred in the summer of 386, shortly before Augustine's volitional conversion in the garden at Milan. Brian Dobell argues, however, that Augustine's intellectual conversion did not occur until the mid-390s, and develops this claim by comparing Confessions 7.9.13–21.27 with a number of important passages and themes from Augustine's early writings. He thus invites the reader to consider anew the problem of Augustine's conversion in 386: was it to Platonism or Christianity? His original and important study will be of interest to a wide range of readers in the history of philosophy and the history of theology.

Preface
Note on translations and references
Chronological table of Augustine's writings
List of abbreviations and texts
Introduction: Augustine's conversion to Christianity
Part I. The Way of Authority and 'the Falsity of Photinus': 1. The way of authority
2. The development of Augustine's Christology
Part II. The Way of Reason and the Ascent of the Soul: 3. The way of reason
4. The problem of evil and the development of Augustine's metaphysics
5. The graded ascent
6. The rejection of Platonic ascent
7. The Ostia ascent
Conclusion: Augustine the Porphyrian
Appendix: true and false in Soliloquies II
Bibliography
Index.

Subject Areas: Theology [HRLB], History of Western philosophy [HPC], Classical history / classical civilisation [HBLA1]