St. Augustine on time, time numbers, and enduring objects

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10 Citations (Scopus)

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 languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)301-323
JournalVivarium
Volume49
Issue number4
Early online date1 Jan 2011
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2011

Keywords

  • Augustine
  • Time
  • Confessions
  • Distentio animi
  • Subjective time
  • Infinite divisibility
  • World-soul

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