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On Order: St. Augustine's Cassiciacum Dialogues, Volume 3
A fresh, new translation of Augustine’s third work as a Christian convert
The first four works written by St. Augustine of Hippo after his conversion to Christianity are dialogues that have influenced prominent thinkers from Boethius to Bernard Lonergan. Usually called the “Cassiciacum dialogues,” these four works are of a high literary and intellectual quality, combining Ciceronian and neo-Platonic philosophy, Roman comedy and Vergilian poetry, and early Christian theology. They are also, arguably, Augustine’s most charming works, exhibiting his whimsical levity and ironic wryness.
On Order is the third work in this tetralogy, and it is Augustine’s only work explicitly devoted to theodicy, the reconciliation of Almighty God’s goodness with evil’s existence. In this dialogue, Augustine argues that a certain kind of self-knowledge is the key to unlocking the answers to theodicy’s vexing questions, and he devotes the latter half of the dialogue to an excursus on the liberal arts as disciplines that will help strengthen the mind to know itself and God.
The first four works written by St. Augustine of Hippo after his conversion to Christianity are dialogues that have influenced prominent thinkers from Boethius to Bernard Lonergan. Usually called the “Cassiciacum dialogues,” these four works are of a high literary and intellectual quality, combining Ciceronian and neo-Platonic philosophy, Roman comedy and Vergilian poetry, and early Christian theology. They are also, arguably, Augustine’s most charming works, exhibiting his whimsical levity and ironic wryness.
On Order is the third work in this tetralogy, and it is Augustine’s only work explicitly devoted to theodicy, the reconciliation of Almighty God’s goodness with evil’s existence. In this dialogue, Augustine argues that a certain kind of self-knowledge is the key to unlocking the answers to theodicy’s vexing questions, and he devotes the latter half of the dialogue to an excursus on the liberal arts as disciplines that will help strengthen the mind to know itself and God.
352 pages, Paperback
Published October 27, 2020
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About the author
Augustine of Hippo
3,189 books1,995 followersEarly church father and philosopher Saint Augustine served from 396 as the bishop of Hippo in present-day Algeria and through such writings as the autobiographical
Confessions
in 397 and the voluminous
City of God
from 413 to 426 profoundly influenced Christianity, argued against Manichaeism and Donatism, and helped to establish the doctrine of original sin.
An Augustinian follows the principles and doctrines of Saint Augustine.
People also know Aurelius Augustinus in English of Regius (Annaba). From the Africa province of the Roman Empire, people generally consider this Latin theologian of the greatest thinkers of all times. He very developed the west. According to Jerome, a contemporary, Augustine renewed "the ancient Faith."
The Neo-Platonism of Plotinus afterward heavily weighed his years. After conversion and his baptism in 387, Augustine developed his own approach to theology and accommodated a variety of methods and different perspectives. He believed in the indispensable grace to human freedom and framed the concept of just war. When the Western Roman Empire started to disintegrate from the material earth, Augustine developed the concept of the distinct Catholic spirituality in a book of the same name. He thought the medieval worldview. Augustine closely identified with the community that worshiped the Trinity. The Catholics and the Anglican communion revere this preeminent doctor. Many Protestants, especially Calvinists, consider his due teaching on salvation and divine grace of the theology of the Reformation. The Eastern Orthodox also consider him. He carries the additional title of blessed. The Orthodox call him "Blessed Augustine" or "Saint Augustine the Blessed."
Santo Agostinho
An Augustinian follows the principles and doctrines of Saint Augustine.
People also know Aurelius Augustinus in English of Regius (Annaba). From the Africa province of the Roman Empire, people generally consider this Latin theologian of the greatest thinkers of all times. He very developed the west. According to Jerome, a contemporary, Augustine renewed "the ancient Faith."
The Neo-Platonism of Plotinus afterward heavily weighed his years. After conversion and his baptism in 387, Augustine developed his own approach to theology and accommodated a variety of methods and different perspectives. He believed in the indispensable grace to human freedom and framed the concept of just war. When the Western Roman Empire started to disintegrate from the material earth, Augustine developed the concept of the distinct Catholic spirituality in a book of the same name. He thought the medieval worldview. Augustine closely identified with the community that worshiped the Trinity. The Catholics and the Anglican communion revere this preeminent doctor. Many Protestants, especially Calvinists, consider his due teaching on salvation and divine grace of the theology of the Reformation. The Eastern Orthodox also consider him. He carries the additional title of blessed. The Orthodox call him "Blessed Augustine" or "Saint Augustine the Blessed."
Santo Agostinho
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February 1, 2025
Sleepovers, fighting roosters, an interrupting mom, noncommittal students, a curious nightlight, and Augustine waxing poetic about the Trivium and Quadrivium.
By far the most enigmatic of Augustine‘s works that I’ve read—I struggle to know exactly how to rate this book. In terms of the overall structure, it is brilliant and made me want to reread it all the moment I finished the last page. As far as the theology goes, things get a little more complicated.
Overall, this book is posed as a consideration of theodicy through the lens of order: what is order, and what is included in order?
One of the peculiarities of this book is that it is a comedy, and it suggests we ought to approach the matter of theodicy comically rather than tragically. This, of course, contrasts our own age, in which nihilism is viewed comically, and theodicy tragically.
My largest qualm with this book (and with much of Augustine’s thought) is his view of rationality and lament. For Augustine it seems that, at his best, man is a totally rational creature. This presupposition, coupled with his thoughts on order, leads to a rather unnuanced view of sorrow, which seems idealistic at best and thus rather unhelpful.
Despite that qualm, I still think this book is remarkable and deeply helpful to anyone who wrestles with theodicy or who wants to marvel more fully in the wonder of God’s order. It invites us to take stock of what is true while considering the difficult questions of life, then to laugh at the limits of our own vision and to turn and worship God in his ineffable glory.
By far the most enigmatic of Augustine‘s works that I’ve read—I struggle to know exactly how to rate this book. In terms of the overall structure, it is brilliant and made me want to reread it all the moment I finished the last page. As far as the theology goes, things get a little more complicated.
Overall, this book is posed as a consideration of theodicy through the lens of order: what is order, and what is included in order?
One of the peculiarities of this book is that it is a comedy, and it suggests we ought to approach the matter of theodicy comically rather than tragically. This, of course, contrasts our own age, in which nihilism is viewed comically, and theodicy tragically.
My largest qualm with this book (and with much of Augustine’s thought) is his view of rationality and lament. For Augustine it seems that, at his best, man is a totally rational creature. This presupposition, coupled with his thoughts on order, leads to a rather unnuanced view of sorrow, which seems idealistic at best and thus rather unhelpful.
Despite that qualm, I still think this book is remarkable and deeply helpful to anyone who wrestles with theodicy or who wants to marvel more fully in the wonder of God’s order. It invites us to take stock of what is true while considering the difficult questions of life, then to laugh at the limits of our own vision and to turn and worship God in his ineffable glory.
Displaying 1 of 1 review