The Political and Social Ideas of St. Augustine

In praise of Augustine Herbert A. Deane writes Genius he had in full measure ... he is the master of the phrase or the sentence that embodies a penetrating insight a flash of lightning that illuminates the entire sky. To provide the student with a glimpse of that genius and a synthesis of Augustines views on man and society the author presents the most important passages from Augustines entire body of work in which human nature the social order and the nature and function of the state are discussed. Marshaling this primary material he masterfully weaves the connections between Augustines social and political ideas and the general framework of his thought. A new foreword by Richard A. Munkelt makes a substantial contribution in critiquing Deanes assimilation of certain aspects of Augustines thought to modern-day liberalism. The new foreword also contains extensive additional bibliography on the subject of Augustines political thought. Will undoubtedly remain the basic work on this subject.--Library Journal Professor Deane significantly contributes both to historical understanding of Augustines political thinking and to appreciation of its permanent relevance to the moral dilemmas of politics. No other study of Augustines political thought gives nearly so much so well.--Political Science Quarterly This book would be salutary possibly purgatorial reading for all politicians psychologists and educationalists.--Times Literary Supplement