Friendship and Society: An Introduction to Augustine's Practical Philosophy

Description

What can I know? What can I hope for? What should I do? These are three perennial questions of life, and few thinkers have offered such penetrating answers as Augustine. *Friendship and Society* is a fascinating volume meant for those interested in what one of history's greatest minds had to say about life in an imperfect world. Bridging expert scholarship and a popular readership, this volume assumes no in-depth knowledge of philosophy or prior acquaintance with Augustine's writings. An introductory reflection on the human predicament is followed by a clear and accurate outline of Augustine's thought on such relevant topics as ethics, politics, society, history, the family, war and peace, crime and punishment, and church and state. Unifying the book is a powerful argument that "friendship" can be the tie that binds us all.Contents: * The human predicament: alienation and affection * Philosophy of history * Ethics * Friendship and society * The family: a society of friends * The family: obstacles to friendship * The nature of the state * Law and violence * War and peace * Crime and punishment * Church and state.