The Thomistic Institute Augustine's Significance for Theorists on War, Justice, and Peace | Fr. Andrew Hofer, O.P.
Nov 15, 2024
Fr. Andrew Hofer, O.P., a professor at the Dominican House of Studies and an expert on patristics, dives deep into St. Augustine's profound impact on concepts of war, justice, and peace. He unpacks Augustine's transformation from Manichaean to influential bishop, highlighting a pivotal conversion moment. The discussion emphasizes Augustine's beliefs on peace, the moral necessity of just causes in war, and critiques modern interpretations of his doctrines. His insights reveal Augustine's legacy as a cornerstone of moral theology in contemporary discourse.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Augustine's Life Shaped By Conversion And Rhetoric
- Fr Andrew Hofer sketches Augustine's life from his 354 birth to his 430 death, highlighting conversion moments like the Milan garden reading of Romans.
- He recounts Augustine's Manichaean years, rhetoric career, Ambrose's influence, baptism, and episcopacy at Hippo to show formative experiences.
Manichaean Light Particles Story From Augustine's Youth
- Fr Andrew Hofer recounts Augustine's Manichaean beliefs with vivid examples, like the idea that eating fruits could release 'light particles' from the body.
- The story highlights Augustine's intellectual curiosity and the oddities of beliefs he later rejected.
Augustine Is Primarily A Theologian Of Peace
- Fr Andrew Hofer emphasizes that Augustine is better read as a theologian of peace rather than of war.
- He points to Augustine's central definition: peace is the tranquility of order, which grounds judgments about war and justice.
