Does Political Augustinianism Help?

The fifth lecture in The D’Arcy Lectures series, exploring the concept of Common Good through the three lenses of Aristotle’s philosophy, Catholic teaching, and contemporary political liberalism.

SYNOPSIS
Many theologians addressing these questions of politics and the common good begin their discussion with St. Augustine’s City of God. This lecture argues that there is a trap in taking this starting point, a trap that Aquinas avoided by combining his reading of Augustine, the Theologian, with a reading of the Philosopher Aristotle. It suggests a reworking of Augustine’s analysis to retain the theological benefit of his ideas for understanding politics today.