Augustine of Hippo (354-430) Human autonomy/heteronomy in his - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Augustine of Hippo (354-430) Human autonomy/heteronomy in his Sermones ad populum (Sermons to the people) Augustine preaches for Valerius , CARLE VAN LOO (1755), Paris, Notre Dame des Victoires

1. Central Research Question Twofold Relevance • Latin sermons, 16 centuries old: Relevant research? • Twofold importance : o A. Historical-contextual. o B. Fundamental content. ANTONIO RODRÍGUEZ (1636-1691) Mexico City, Museo Nacional de Arte

1. Central Research Question A. A man of our time / for our time? • Transition period: o Antiquity. o Middle Ages. • Similarities : o Political instability. o Economic crisis. o Religious diversity: • Previously tolerance. • Now fundamentalist excesses. • Turning point : uncertainty. • Child 4 th -5 th c. & our contemporary . Augustine preaches (10 th -11 th C.) Madrid, Biblioteca Nacional

1. Central Research Question B. Reflections about human autonomy/heteronomy • All solely on my own ? • Augustine against ‘ pelagians ’: o Overstate capacities man. o Forget grace. o Scharp polemics. • Later reception : o Pessimistic. o Only human failure. o ‘Everything is grace’. • Research question : correct? Augustine crushes ‘pelagians’ (1640) Leuven, Frontispiece Augustinus , C. Jansenius

2. Breakthrough / innovation Discovery Sermones ad populum • 580 Sermones : ‘audio recordings’. o No written preparation. o Stenographers. o Not revised. • No scientific interest : o ‘Repetitive’ & ‘not original’. o ‘Pastoral moralistic talks’. • But relevant : o Retorical construction. o Complex content. o Necessary for complete picture. Augustine preaches (14 th C.) Real Biblioteca del Monasterio de El Escoria l

2. Breakthrough / innovation Specific genre Sermones • Genre Sermones : o Urge to ethical life. o Not effective : ‘ everything grace ’. o Human role central! • Research question : Results difference in genres in different understanding? OTTAVIANO NELLI (1375-1444/50) Augustine preaches Gubbio, Chiesa di Sant'Agostino

2. Breakthrough / innovation More balanced than only grace • Sermons : o No denial grace. o Emphasis ethical responsabilities. • Anti-pelagian writings: o Emphasis grace. o No denial human freedom. • New vision on Augustine: o Greater complexity. o More balanced. Augustine preaches (Padova, 1500) London, British Library

3. Potential applications / impact Re-evaluation reception/interpretation Augustine • ‘All is grace’: o Too one-sided. o Onnuanced from anti-Pelagian stance. Engelberg, Stiftsbibliothek, Cod. 12: Enarrationes in psalmos 1143-1178

3. Potential applications / impact Sermones • Integration of sermons . • Genre sensitivity : o Totality oeuvre . o Destinction genres: • Specific objectives. • Specific target groups. THEODORE DE BRY (16 th C.) Augustine preaches Paris, Bibliothèque Nationale

Thank you! Questions? Augustine preaches (12 th C.) Florence, Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana