Augustine of Hippo and Baruch Espinoza

Counterpoints and approximations from an anthropological reading

Abstract

The present article proposes to present in a comparative form the fundamental aspects of anthropological character inherent to Augustine of Hippo and Baruch Espinoza thought. In order to do so, it seeks to realize a reading in which counterpoints and possible approximations are established. In a first moment it analyzes more closely questions of Augustinian anthropology. It recovers some data concerning the epochal and philosophical context in which Augustine is inserted, it exposes the theoretical strands of which the author drinks and that therefore it takes as base for the construction of his thought in anthropological scope. Then he works synthetically the central concepts of the reflection undertaken by Augustine on the problem of man, that is, body and soul. Therefore, it emphasizes the existing hierarchy between these two structures, in which the spiritual soul is in a superior position to the material body, constituting then a dualistic anthropological model. In the second part of the reflection, the analysis focus is directed to the work Ethic of the dutch Espinoza. Initially an elucidation is made around the primordial concept of the whole Espinoza's philosophical system, the concept of substance or then God. Correspondingly, his understanding is presented around the so-called attributes and substance modes. Once this introduction of themes of a more general character has realized, the elucubration recovers the categories of body and mind. It emphasizes the hierarchization absence and the interdependence sense between these two fundamental structures in man, evidencing and justifying the strongly monistic characterization of Espinoza's anthropology, thus distinguishing it strongly from the Augustinian model.