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Topicality of the political and existential dynamism of peace in the philosophy of St. Augustin
Ivan Koprek
; Filozofski fakultet Družbe Isusove u Zagrebu, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Abstract
The opening statement is that a man craves for peace though by nature a restless being.
St. Augustin lived under the circumstances when owing to barbarian invasions, "Pax Romana" was jeopardized. Peace is his central preoccupation and he mentions it in his papers 2000 times. Writing about peace, he defends against Manichaean error the God's order of things and ontological idea about peace. Against Donatists, he defends so called church peace. He introduces the distinction of "pax civitas Dei" and "pax civitas terenae". To him the "Pax Romana" is the result of antitheist attitudes and justification of the policy of force. The Christian conception of peace would be an anticipation of the eschatologie unity of justice and peace. A man as a restless being is incapable of establishing peace.
The peace is an inner state of the internal and external balance brought in harmony.
In "Civitas Dei" he would say that the peace is the bliss of the seventh day. The political way to peace Augustin finds in establishing a concord and justice. The justice is manifested first of all in giving to God what belongs to him.
A state which does not run its affairs in that way cannot establish peace. The existential way to peace is love because the peace is its result.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
55094
URI
Publication date:
20.8.1990.
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