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Augustine: Philosopher and Saint  By  cover art

Augustine: Philosopher and Saint

By: Phillip Cary,The Great Courses
Narrated by: Phillip Cary
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Publisher's summary

These 12 illuminating lectures paint a rich and detailed portrait of the life, works, and ideas of this remarkable figure, whose own search for God has profoundly shaped all of Western Christianity. You'll learn what Augustine taught and why he taught it – and how those teachings and doctrines helped shape the Roman Catholic Church.

These lectures are rewarding even if you have no background at all in classical philosophy or Christian theology. Professor Cary explains any special religious or philosophical concepts you need to know in order to appreciate Augustine's impact, with real-life examples and analogies that make even the most subtle concepts clear and easy to understand. You'll gain a sense of what Augustine was saying, how his own experiences led him to say it, and how his thoughts fit into the theological, philosophical, and political worlds that swirled around him.

First, you'll study Augustine's life, with a three-angled look at the Confessions, his great spiritual autobiography, written when he was a 45-year-old bishop. Then, you'll investigate key concepts of Augustine's thoughts on faith and love, grace, original sin, the Church, and more. And finally, you'll gain a greater familiarity with Augustine's concept of persons, both human and divine, by focusing on his great work, The City of God.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.

©1997 The Teaching Company, LLC (P)1997 The Great Courses

What listeners say about Augustine: Philosopher and Saint

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    3 out of 5 stars

Good, but problematic in parts.

In chapter 9 the professor gives an incorrect teaching about Augustine's understanding of the sacraments. He says that Augustine believed they were signs rather than efficacious signs. This completely contradicts Augustine on the necessity of infant baptism and his teaching in De Doctrina Christiana. He concludes the lecture by declaring that Augustine should have taught something else about baptism, since it contradicts his teaching on sacraments. Maybe the professor should have realized that what actually happened was that he misunderstood Augustine's sacramental theology rather than Augustine misunderstood himself.

Otherwise the lectures are basically good, but the professor is too quick to criticize Augustine, and his lip service to "Augustine is Catholic, but not Catholic Catholic" is silly. Augustine clearly believed in the hierarchy of the Church and if he reappeared on earth today would have very little sympathy with protestants.

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Very thoughtful and well executed.


I'm in the process of committing 200 hours this year to studying philosophy. I have listened to many other great courses philosophy series and found them enlightening. I wasn't expecting much in particular from this particular course but the contributions this man made to western thought simply cannot be ignored. many of these ideas are still alive and well in both contemporary religious and secular thought. well done, teaching company. and a great value, as well.

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9 people found this helpful

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Core principles

I found it to be a very easy lesson and enjoyed it very much. However I think that the serious listener will have to listen to it two or three times to fully absorb the detailed meaning. There is a new biography on audible about Augustine. I would strongly suggest listening to it after reviewing this lecture. Then follow up with the other great course on Augustine. I personally am not Catholic but enjoyed this course all the same.

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7 people found this helpful

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meet Augustine of Hippo. Manichean to Saint

I knew next to nothing if Augustine if Hippo. this series of lectures is a survey, yet dense, overview if his pre Christian biography and his philosophical and theological orog9ns and how they influenced the Roman Empire of the late 4th century. an excellent introduction, summaryand analyses of his two key works; Confessions and The City of God.

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Masterful Course

Professor Carey’s easy style and enthusiasm for the topic make Augustine come alive. The great philosopher and theologian becomes real and touchable in this course. Dissecting Augustine’s whirlwind of topics and treatises might seem too daunting a task for a course such as this, but Carey takes us on a jaunting and thoroughly enjoyable romp through it all.
Within all of that, my faith was strengthened and broadened with the course. I’d recommend it to any who wish to deepen their own faith and better understand how our beliefs owe so much to the wisdom and love of this great doctor of the Church.

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Is THAT where we get our theology??

Fascinating.... And bizzare. I'm not sure I can follow Augustine's logic much of the time - it's like saying "A probably = B. A, therefore B. If B then C. Almost B, therefore C. C+D+E < F. Therefore, the doctrine of the church shall be F." I think he digs himself into holes with all his ad hoc solutions to logical absurdities. But, so they tell me, we have him to thank for the state of many things in Western thinking, and since Western thinking > any other thinking, therefore Augustine must have been right.

Professor Cary did an honourable job of presenting Augustine's ideas objectively, while still providing a human perspective.

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Awesome

Great job Augustine . Very smart . Great book to listen to. Great points . Bravo

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Must listen Intro in Augustinus

Intro in understanding contemporary thinking; we should know how a.o. the ancient Greeks and (RK) church influence in the way we think today. I didn’t know how much and what came from Augustinus of Hippo. I now have a solid idea. Whether I agree (or not) with the content is beside the point, but inspires to listen to more.

Narrator Phillip Cary brings the topic with enthusiasm. It certainly helps listening to the complete course. Sometimes a bit ‘need to convinced’ (maybe US communication habit? … and I am used to UK lectures). However, Thank you Mr. Cary.

Unfortunately I know too little content to comment whether content is completely correct (please see reviews with content comments).

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Good introduction to Augustine of Hippo

A fairly good introductory audiobook on the history and philosophy of Augustine of Hippo. The narrator is sometimes a bit overdramatic and lacks of deep analysis, but in overall is good.

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Juvenile Approach

I was disappointed in this series in that it seemed more akin to a high school history class than a college philosophy course. The instructor was enthusiastic at times, which aided engagement, but downright annoying at other times. His propensity for heavy sighs undermined his stated passion for Augustine. He certainly seemed preoccupied with interjecting sex whenever possible, which felt like multiple times every lecture. His use of repetition focused on the trivial rather than what was significant in Augustine’s thought. The content seemed spot on, just too superficial to be considered college level.

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