Philosophy Index

Saint Augustine

Augustine of Hippo (Augustine, Saint Augustine, or Saint Austin, 354–430) was a Roman theologian and philosopher from the Roman province of Africa. An early writer in the Christian tradition, Augustine's writings. He was the son of Saint Monica, a Christian woman, and Patricius, who still practiced Roman paganism.

Augustine learned of pagan religion, but led a largely hedonistic lifestyle. He was educated at Carthage, and later taught rhetoric. In his Confessions, he tells of an untamed youth, during which he became a father to an illegitimate son.

Augustine went through a number of philosophical changes, studying stoicism, neoplatonism and skepticism, until he finally turned to Christianity and was baptized on Easter, 387 CE. He was chosen to become a priest, which he eventually accepted—later becoming bishop of Hippo (which is in present-day Algeria).

Augustine was famous for his Confessions, both as a source for his own biography and as a story of a conversion to Christianity. He is also famous for his defense of Christianity against early critics in City of God. His experience with the works of Plato is apparent in his writing, and much of his work can be seen as reconciling Plato with Christian doctrine.

St. Augustine’s feast day is August 28. He is often regared as an early scholastic philosopher, though he lived closer to antiquity.



Name: Augustine of Hippo
Born: November 13, 354
Died: August 28, 430
Office: Bishop of Hippo Regius
Canonized: 1298 by Pope Boniface VIII
Feast day: August 29 (West) or June 15 (East)