Guide To Philosophers

Saint Augustine of Hippo
(354-430)

Biography

Born in Thagaste, North Africa, he is a major Christian pilosopher and theologian and the key figure in the transition from pagan to specifically christian philosophy. He had a pagan father and a christian mother, and had a rather innocent childhood, except from a pearlstealing. Later he studied rhetoric at Carthage, and then taught in Rome and Milan. After a period believing in different isms he converted, at the age of 31, to Christianity. It gave him the answers philosophy never could, in forms of incarnation and consequent salvation. In 395 he was appointed coadjutor of Bishop Valerius, and a year later became bishop of Hippo.

Works

On Free Will
Concerning the Teacher
The Confessions, also in Latin
The Enchiridion on Faith, Hope and Love
On Christian Doctrine
On the Trinity
The City of God

Augustine On The Web

Image from an early fifteenth century copy of City of God
Saint Augustine in Hell - track from an album by Sting.
The above and some more on Augustine can be found on James J. O'Donnell's homepage.
A more detailed biography of Augustine

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Last modified September 9, 1995.