Know Thyself: Augustine’s Interpretation of the Perennial Maxim

Abstract

This thesis is a study of Augustine’s contribution to the Western conception of the self. Augustine’s definition of the self is most comprehensively summarised by him in his interpretation of the Delphic maxim, Know thyself, found in De Trinitate. Accordingly, this thesis will investigate Augustine’s interpretation of the Delphic maxim, by contextually examining his other writings first, before arriving at De Trinitate to elucidate his view of the self. Confessiones, will initially be explored as to provide a brief biographical summary of his life. Once this has been established, Augustine’s theology of love will be presented as being a necessary ethical ideal that fulfils the realisation of the self. However, in accordance with Augustine’s understanding of the problem of evil, it will be demonstrated that due to sin — ascribable to the human will — Augustine’s ethic of love is an unachievable reality by way of the self. Finally, De Trinitate will exclusively be studied, where Augustine explicitly references the Delphic maxim. Specifically, it is in the latter half of De Trinitate (Books 8-15) where Augustine conducts a search for God in the human soul, as he believes it is an analogical site that is able to be comparatively likened to the Trinitarian nature of God. Conclusively, Augustine’s ethic of love, Augustine’s solution to the problem of evil, and Augustine’s Trinitarian psychology, will be analysed using a diachronic approach, in order to form a unified and coherent Augustinian interpretation of the Delphic maxim.