A dialogue on the relation of wisdom and numbers between Evodius and Augustine in XI segues into a dialogue about truth in XII – XIV. The topic of truth is very compelling, and Augustine has some very wise ideas to present about it. Augustine establishes that immutable truth exists and is superior to the senses and minds. “You will not deny, therefore, that immutable truth, comprising everything that is immutably true, exists; and you cannot say that immutable truth is yours, or mine, or anyone else’s” (65). Truth is public and yet belongs to no specific persons in particular. As Augstine says, the mind is subject to truth because we make judgments according to truth rather than about it. The mind perceives more or less, so if the mind determined truth then truth would change, but “Truth, remaining in itself, does not gain anything when we see it, or lose anything when we do not see it. It is whole and uncorrupted” (67). Minds can be closer or further to truth, and the mind that is closer to truth knows more.
In XIII, Augustine declares that we ought to embrace and enjoy truth, as it is by truth that we attain the highest good and are happy. At the end of page 68, Augustine uses an excellent metaphor describing how the mind wields reason to discover truth: “when the rapier edge of the mind cuts through the many true and immutable things with its sure reason, it steers toward the very truth, by which all things are revealed…” Truth is absolute and eternal and through it we can become greater. “It changes for the better all who behold it, and is not changed for the worse by anyone. No man passes judgment on truth, and no man judges well without it” (70). Augustine is a fascinating theologian because he reveres truth and reason.
It was interesting to see how Augustine compared God not only to truth but also to numbers. I was particularly surprised when Augustine said (roughly) 'the ultimate truth is equal to the Father'. I wouldn't have expected to see a Medieval theological put anything on the same level as God.
ReplyDeleteI was an argument the other day that concept of truth was self-proving. It went something like this:
1. Truth does not exist
2. The above statement is presented as a true statement
3. A statement that would deny truth while claiming to be truthful contradicts itself and is thus self-defeating
4. No self-defeating statement can be true
5. If 'truth does not exist' cannot be true, then truth exists
The structure of this argument reminded me of Augustine's proof for the statement 'I exist'. If it is possible that God is Truth itself (as Augustine claimed), and truth can (supposedly) prove it's own existence, then from Augustine's point of view, the non-dogmatic claim 'truth exists' might seem a compelling reason to believe in God (of course the argument is not free from dogma, as the suggestion that Truth could be God is dogmatic speculation).
Augustine apparently spent a lot of time trying to reconcile Christianity and philosophy. Here he speaks of truth in a philosophical manner and then labels it God (and then qualifies it by saying if something is greater than truth, then that is God instead). He tries to put Christianity on a solid foundation of reason, but to me he just seems to be piggybacking on philosophy. On the other hand, philosophy exists sufficiently without Christianity. You can confidently say truth exists, but it is more difficult to say that God exists. To say truth is God seems like an unnecessary extension of the concept of truth (unless of course, you are a member of the church).
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