Join James K. A. Smith, a professor and author, as he dives into the relevance of St. Augustine's wisdom for our modern lives. They explore deep feelings of restlessness and existential angst that haunt us today, echoing Augustine's own struggles. Smith contrasts Augustine's insights on true freedom through dependence on God with existentialist philosophies. The conversation touches on themes of ambition, identity, and the vital role of grace, shedding light on how these age-old ideas can help us find meaning and fulfillment in an often chaotic world.
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Augustine's Background
Augustine, born in North Africa in the 4th century, had a pagan Roman father and a Christian African mother.
His most famous work, Confessions, is considered one of the West's first memoirs.
insights INSIGHT
Augustine's Influence on Existentialism
Existentialist philosophers like Heidegger, Sartre, and Camus were influenced by Augustine's work.
Augustine explored themes of self-discovery and meaning, making him a sort of proto-existentialist.
insights INSIGHT
Two Types of Restlessness
The restlessness of life's journey comes from not knowing where home is or finding destinations underwhelming.
Another restlessness stems from knowing home exists (like a hoped-for future) but not having arrived yet.
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Written in Latin between AD 397 and 400, 'Confessions' is a blend of autobiography, philosophy, theology, and critical exegesis of the Christian Bible. The first nine books are autobiographical, tracing Augustine's life from his birth to his conversion to Catholicism. He recounts his sinful youth, his involvement with Manicheism and Neoplatonism, and his eventual conversion in a Milanese garden. The last four books focus on philosophical and theological issues, including memory, time, eternity, and the interpretation of the Book of Genesis. The work is structured as a series of prayers to God, reflecting Augustine's journey of redemption and his understanding of God's grace and providence[2][4][5].
Do you feel restless? Have you ever lied in bed at night looking up at the ceiling wondering "Is this all there is to life?" Or have you ever achieved a big goal in life only to feel let down?
Over 1500 years ago, Catholic bishop, philosopher and theologian Augustine of Hippo had those same feelings of angst and wrote down some insights on how to deal with them and they're just as relevant today as they were then.
My guest today has written a book about Augustine's ancient insights on the anxiety of modern life and how this famous Catholic theologian has had a profound impact on Western philosophy, including among 20th-century existential philosophers. His name is James K. A. Smith and his book is On the Road with Saint Augustine. We begin our show discussing Augustine's biography and his oft-overlooked influence on atheistic existential philosophers like Heidegger, Sartre, and Camus.
We then dig into the big ideas that Augustine hit on his famous bookConfessions including how to deal with existential angst, how to find your true self, what it means to be truly free in life, and how to deal with our restless ambition. Along the way, James shows how 20th-century existential philosophers dealt with these questions, why he thinks existentialism falls shorts to answering them, and why Augustine's solutions might be better.
Lots of great insights about big life questions in this episode.
The Art of Manliness 