A concepção Agostiniana de paz no livro XIX da obra A Cidade de Deus

Abstract

Augustine is just one of a few thinkers of the late-old world to offer a profound and dense reflection on peace. The present study aims to discover what conception that the Bishop of Hipone has on the issue of peace. To achieve this objective, the material object is the book XIX of The City of God, which many studious consider as a true hymn in favor of peace. The perspective of Augustine is peace as an aspiration of every human, every people and every existence. It consists of the so called tranquillitas ordinis. Order is the disposition that guarantees the correspondent place to different things and similar things. Having that in mind, Augustine postulates the true scale of peace: the body peace is the harmonious order of its parts; the irrational peace is the ordered quietness of its cravings; the domestic peace is the concord based on good, which is fulfilled in the ordering and the obeying of those who live together; peace of a city is a well-ordered concord to government and the obedience of its citizens; man’s peace with God is the well-ordered obedience according to faith under the eternal law. When defining peace as tranquillitas ordinis, Augustine reveals the idea that inspires and dominates the moral thinking. There is a universe hierarchically built which is composed of beings extending from the lowest level of the corporeal being to the apex of creation. Based on this horizon, man occupies a unique and particular place. The moral life, on this present case, consists of a well-ordered life and in the right choice of goods created by God. The preservation of the peace order in human society depends on the obedience to the following rules: firstly, don’t do any harm to anyone; secondly, help everyone in suffering