St. Augustine (354–430 CE) was one of the most influential Christian philosophers and theologians of the Western tradition. His writings, especially in works like The City of God and Confessions, laid the foundations for Christian political theory. Augustine’s views on the state, property, and slavery reflect the intersection of his Christian faith with his understanding of human nature, sin, and divine providence. In this essay, we will examine his views on each of these topics and their theological and philosophical implications.
1. Augustine’s Views on the State
In Augustine’s political thought, the state is not an end in itself but a means to maintain order in a fallen world. The essential tension in Augustine’s political theory is the contrast between the City of God and the City of Man, two allegorical representations of the divine and earthly realms. Augustine’s thoughts on the state are deeply influenced by his Christian beliefs, especially the notion of the fallen human condition.
- The City of God vs. The City of Man: According to Augustine, there are two cities in human history: the City of God, which represents the spiritual kingdom of God, and the City of Man, which represents the earthly realm governed by human laws and authority. The City of Man is associated with secular political life, which is inevitably flawed due to the corruption of human nature. In contrast, the City of God is marked by the reign of divine justice, which transcends earthly governments.
- The Role of the State: Augustine viewed the state as a necessary institution to maintain peace and order in a world marred by sin. The state’s primary role is to curb human vices, punish wrongdoers, and preserve societal stability. The state is a temporal authority, and its purpose is to secure the peace of the earthly city, which allows individuals to pursue their ultimate goal of reaching the City of God.
- Ambivalence toward Political Power: Augustine’s political philosophy reflects a certain ambivalence toward the state. He did not view political power as inherently evil, but he did see it as limited and imperfect. Since the state is a product of human law, it is always subject to human failings, which means it can never fully reflect the justice of God. Augustine did not advocate for revolutionary overthrow of the state but urged Christians to maintain a submissive attitude toward earthly authorities, as long as those authorities did not command anything contrary to God’s will.
2. Augustine’s Views on Property
In Augustine’s thought, the question of property is not simply about economics or materialism but is tied to spiritual virtue and divine providence. For Augustine, earthly possessions and wealth have only secondary importance compared to the pursuit of spiritual goods. His views on property reflect his overarching theological belief in the transitory nature of worldly things and the eternal significance of the soul.
- Property as a Means, Not an End: Augustine believed that property, like other material possessions, should be used as a means to an end, rather than being an end in itself. This end is the service of God and the pursuit of Christian charity. For Augustine, wealth and property should be shared with those in need, and greed or excessive attachment to wealth is a vice.
- Christian Attitude Toward Property: Augustine’s understanding of property is rooted in Christian teachings on stewardship. He recognized that private ownership of property was a practical necessity in human society, but he also emphasized that such ownership should not lead to selfishness or oppression. Christians are called to be stewards of their possessions and to use them for the common good, not merely for personal enrichment.
- The Role of the State in Property: Augustine acknowledged the role of the state in regulating property rights and protecting private property, but he viewed the state’s actions as secondary to divine law. While earthly laws might protect private property, the true moral value of possessions is determined by how they are used in accordance with God’s will.
3. Augustine’s Views on Slavery
Augustine’s views on slavery are complex and reflect the historical context in which he lived. Slavery was a common institution in the Roman Empire, and Augustine’s thinking about it was influenced by both the Christian doctrine of the equality of souls and the reality of social structures in the Roman world. While Augustine did not advocate for the immediate abolition of slavery, his writings laid the groundwork for later Christian critiques of the institution.
- Slavery as a Consequence of Sin: Augustine understood slavery as a consequence of the fall of humanity. According to Augustine, all humans are born into sin, and as such, they experience both spiritual and social subjugation. The institution of slavery, therefore, could be seen as a reflection of the brokenness of the human condition, which is the result of original sin. Augustine believed that human societies, in their imperfection, inevitably reflected this brokenness through systems like slavery.
- Slavery and Christian Virtue: Despite his recognition of the injustices of slavery, Augustine’s Christian framework did not lead him to challenge the institution outright. His emphasis was on the spiritual equality of all people before God. In this sense, freedom and slavery were ultimately matters of the soul. A Christian slave, according to Augustine, could be free in Christ, even though they remained physically enslaved in this world. This theological position helped justify the endurance of slavery within Christian societies for many centuries.
- No Immediate Call for Abolition: Augustine did not call for the abolition of slavery, nor did he advocate for social upheaval. However, he emphasized that the Christian duty of slave owners was to treat their slaves with compassion and fairness. The true freedom that Augustine emphasized was spiritual freedom, which transcended earthly conditions, including slavery.
4. Critical Commentary on Augustine’s Views
While Augustine’s views on the state, property, and slavery were influenced by Christian doctrines, they also reflect the limitations of his time and the Roman social order. His ambivalence toward political authority and his acceptance of slavery, without calling for its abolition, have been points of criticism. However, it is important to understand that Augustine’s thinking was more concerned with the ultimate salvation of the soul than with political or social reform.
- Impact on Christian Political Theory: Augustine’s views laid the foundation for the medieval Christian understanding of politics, where the state was seen as subordinate to the divine will. His theory of the City of God became a central text for later Christian political thought, especially in the context of church-state relations.
- Slavery and Modern Thought: Augustine’s acceptance of slavery, especially his focus on spiritual rather than social liberation, is problematic from a modern perspective. Contemporary Christian thought and the broader human rights movement have consistently criticized slavery as an intrinsic evil, a critique that would eventually become central to Christian doctrine in the abolitionist movements of the 19th century.
Conclusion
St. Augustine’s views on the state, property, and slavery reflect his broader theological framework, where divine justice and human sin provide the backdrop for understanding political and social structures. His view of the state as a necessary institution for maintaining order in a fallen world, his nuanced stance on property, and his reluctant acceptance of slavery reveal the tension between Christian ideals of justice and the reality of worldly politics. While his views were grounded in his theological perspective, their influence on later Christian political thought, especially during the Middle Ages, was profound.
Leave a Reply