Hello all, and welcome to the first true installment of Philosophy Cornered. Today, I will be offering some thoughts on Augustine of Hippo's On the Immortality of the Soul.

This was a fun introduction into the concept of Man and Spirit; Augustine is convinced that not only is there a soul, but it is immortal as well. He begins by explaining that because the soul is the subject of science -- an immortal subject which he defines as the knowledge of anything whatsoever -- and because no person would deny the existing of science, and all science happens through the mind, the mind must be immortal since science exists and never ceases to exist and its form is ultimately unchangeable. The living are those that possess science and therefore possess the a mind which is the proof and seal of the living. This is observed as the mind which Augustine claims to have stemmed from the soul and evidences this with the immortality of the mind. He goes on to say that all objects require action to exist and in turn, something must set that action

Here lies some of the most interesting meat in his argument. He spends a great deal of time working with the forms (rather Platonically), and explains that the mind is not a piece of the body, but instead a separate form all together -- it is instead linked to the body due to the soul. The soul has created the actions which give life to the body. Whatever moves without change must be alive. The body does not change as it moves, nor does the mind. This refers to them as forms (the quintessential essence which makes something that which it is.) A body may become scraped or ill, but it never ceases to be any less or more of a body.

My favourite part is where he builds upon this and begins talking about action and the space in which action occurs. He submits that the body can only move in time and as such, the body can only move faster or slower. This is a profound observation; it means that the senses only perceive through time -- and this the abstract (that which the mind perceives) is on a realm beyond time. Thus, ideas are eternal, and because ideas are housed in the mind -- and that which houses the immortal must itself be immortal -- the mind is immortal. Remember, the body does not house the mind; instead the mind is more of a gift and animating life-force granted by the soul. To me, it reminded me of a rock. An object that exists ancd has a form; however, no life force. This is just like a body prior to receiving a soul (a puppet awaiting a master to guide and animate it).

He goes on to postulate that everything which occurs requires expectation of completion (a future) and memory (a past) which belongs to the mind. Thus, the body's movement through time is tracked by the mind. Intention to act creates the present through which the future moves into the past. This allows learning, wisdom and other important virtues to develop. All of which bring a mind closer to the Supreme Good (not God, but instead the absolute truest and most good Good that be. Think of the most full and perfect glass of water that never spills despite having the overfilled dome). These virtues allow the mind to move away from the body and back to the soul which is the closest thing to this Supreme Good.

This was a common idea back then -- and still is-- that the ideal philosopher must forsake the body and focus purely on mind and reason. He evidences this by noting that the future and past can exist only to life, and life -- he says -- is characterized by having a mind and thus a soul. He warns that the mind is the ultimate tool to reach the good; however, turning away from the soul and pursuing the body means forsaking what he believes to be the purpose of life and thought. He notes that a mind can never becomes a body, and never be destroyed -- so, a mind can always turn back to the soul and do what is (to Augustine) the best.

Now to end on a personal note before I get out of control with this rabbit hole of contemplation. My favourite thing about his section was the analysis of time. If time is intrinsic to the body, and not the mind and soul -- then one can surely reach the Truth. The reaching of Truth is certainly the quest of life -- for surely one does not live only to live -- and as such, it can be done. If one is able to put time past their self and use the mind's escape from such things as the entrance into the forms -- then perhaps they can be found. Aristotle certainly had a different view of this than Plato and for this reason, it is appropriate that the Christian Aristotle will be the subject of next week. I regret that I do not have more time and space to delve into this wonderful work. If I did, then I would dive into Eliot's "Burnt Norton" and its ties here. Perhaps next week, but until then -- please comment and interact with this article. There is so much to discuss and learn!