Abstract
Throughout his works, St. Augustine offers at least nine distinct views on the nature of time, at least three of which have remained almost unnoticed in the secondary literature. I first examine each these nine descriptions of time and attempt to diffuse common misinterpretations, especially of the views which seek to identify Augustinian time as consisting of an un-extended point or a distentio animi. Second, I argue that Augustine’s primary understanding of time, like that of later medieval scholastics, is that of an accident connected to the changes of created substances. Finally, I show how this interpretation has the benefit of rendering intelligible Augustine’s contention that, at the resurrection, motion will still be able to occur, but not time.
Original language | English |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | 301-323 |
Journal | Vivarium |
Volume | 49 |
Issue number | 4 |
Early online date | 1 Jan 2011 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2011 |
Keywords
- Augustine
- Time
- Confessions
- Distentio animi
- Subjective time
- Infinite divisibility
- World-soul