Augustine's dialogue De libero arbitrio (On Free Choice) is, with his Confessions and City of God, one of his most important and widely read works. It contains one of the earliest accounts of the concept of 'free will' in the history of philosophy. Composed during a key period in Augustine's early career, between his conversion to Christianity and his ordination as a bishop, it has often been viewed as a an incoherent mixture of his 'early' and 'late' thinking. Simon Harrison offers an original account of Augustine's theory of will, taking seriously both the philosophical arguments and literary form of the text. Relating De libero arbitrio to other key texts of Augustine's, in particular the City of God and the Confessions, Harrison shows that Augustine approaches the problem of free will as a problem of knowledge: how do I know that I am free?, and that Augustine uses the dialogue form to instantiate his 'way into the will'.
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An original account of Augustine's theory of will, based on a close reading of his pivotal and fundamental text, the dialogue On Free Choice. Simon Harrison rehabilitates this widely read but often misinterpreted book to show the importance of Augustine as a major philosopher.
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1. Introduction ; 2. Dissecting 'de libero arbitrio' ; 3. The integrity of lib.arb. ; 4. Approaching the will ; 5. Understanding, knowledge, and reponsibility ; 6. Facilitas, difficultas, and voluntas ; 7. A cogito-like argument? ; 8. Conclusion
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Harrison's detailed attention to the text Lib. Arb., and in particular, to 1.12.25, is reminiscent of Jane Austen's description of 'the little bit (two inches wide) of ivory on which I work with so fine a brush'. The labour, however, is a rewarding one, demonstrating why for Augustine the reality of the human will is and remains undeniable, and showing us teh connectiions he drawsbetween the human will and our capacities to think and know.
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Provides a way in to an often misinterpreted work, underlining the importance of Augustine as a major philosopher Relates On Free Choice to other key texts of Augustine's, the City of God and the Confessions
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Simon Harrison was formerly a Research Fellow of St John's College, Cambridge, and is currently training in medicine.
Provides a way in to an often misinterpreted work, underlining the importance of Augustine as a major philosopher Relates On Free Choice to other key texts of Augustine's, the City of God and the Confessions
Les mer

Produktdetaljer

ISBN
9780198269847
Publisert
2006
Utgiver
Vendor
Oxford University Press
Vekt
381 gr
Høyde
223 mm
Bredde
140 mm
Dybde
18 mm
Aldersnivå
P, 06
Språk
Product language
Engelsk
Format
Product format
Innbundet
Antall sider
208

Forfatter

Om bidragsyterne

Simon Harrison was formerly a Research Fellow of St John's College, Cambridge, and is currently training in medicine.