Born to a Berber mother and a Roman father, Augustine grew up in North Africa in the latter part of the 4th century. His words and ideas, however, influenced not only the development of Christianity throughout the Roman Empire in his era and beyond, but also fields as diverse as semiotics and music, and indeed many of the assumptions and ideas in the world we live in today.
From his early philosophical works, through his Confessions--one of the first texts to capture the journey of the interior life--to his later polemical treatises, Augustine wrote with captivating vividness and astonishing intellectual capacity. In order to get as well-rounded a picture of him as possible, each week will focus on a different role he filled or a controversy he waded into. We will immerse ourselves in the thought world of an ancient and yet surprisingly relatable figure of tremendous influence.
Note: The main primary sources for this course can be found in the book Augustine: In His Own Words by William Harmless. Students are encouraged to obtain a copy of this text.