The Philosophical Doctrines of St. Augustine compared with the Ideology of the Modern Schools [pp. 481-496]

488 The Phdosop/iical Doctrities of St. Augustine.
in this place many years ago; and in one sole principle unfolded in three
has been better exhibited for the members: the principle being that
benefit of science by the illustrious of creation; the three members being
F. Milone in his book entitled, La physics, logic, and ethics; which are
&uola di Filosofia J?azionak Intitola- respectively the sole cause of exis6a a S. Augastino; wherefore I will tence, the sole light of knowledge,
abstain from considering it any further the sole end of virtue. From this
at present. I will restrict myself on every one can see and touch with the
this occasion to taking advantage of hand that St. Augustine found his
il~e other consequences which follow ideology in the principle of creation,
to a marvel from the ideology, but regarded it as a part of the principle
especially from the genesis of the of creation, distinguished it from the
ideology of St. Augustine. Indeed two extreme cycles, and from the two
we have a great number of authors, opposite members Qf the principle
beginning with the most exalted of of creation. If any one had denied
all, that is,`the seraphic and angelic the ideology of St. Augustine in his
doctors, and terminating with writers time, St. Augustine would have been
who are still living in Italy, France, bound to say that such a person
and Belgium, who have collected denied the principle of creation; if
from the Augustinian writings a most some one else had vaunted a contraextensive list of disputed questions ry system of ideology, he would have
concerning ideology and human been bound to judge that system to
knowledge; but, above all, we have be contrary to the principle of creatwo more remarkable collections in tion; if any one had demanded from
the works of those two fathers of the St. Augustine the substantial fbrn~ula
Oratory of France, who are equal to of his ideology, the origin of that ideany in learning and merit-Thomas- ology, or the proofs of the stability,
sin and Martin.* That which may security, and irrefutable validity of
perhaps have something new and that id~logy, he would always have
original in it, in our own investiga- been obliged to answer, by appealing
tion, is the more exact indication to the universal principle establishof the primitive fountain and source ed by reason and the Catholic faith,
whence these rarge streams take their that is, to the principle of creation.
issue; that source, namely, from Therefore the genesis of the Auguswhid~ St. Augustine derived the logi- tinian ideology, if it had not been alcal moment of that ideology which ready traced out or properly considhe bases, constructs, and amplifies ered before to-day, would b now as
with such great strength; which was clear and certain as the ligh?, and
the concept, original with him, of that with the eighth book of The Ci~y of
most vast and sublime theory of hu- God,~we might predict that it would be
man cognitions formed by him alone. immortal.
It appears to me that I have made it In scientific themes a twofold laclear to all, from those things which bor must be undergone; on the one
have been laid down and the testi- hand, in ascertaining, and in elucidatmonies adduced, th~t St. Augustine ing on the other, the matters to be
concentrates and hinges the three treated of; and the one who must
branches of the natural encydopiedia apply himself rigorously to one part
of this is rarely able at the same
Thomassin, Dogm. Theol. Je Deo. Martin, 5. time to attend to the other. This
Aur. Aug. Hip~oneu. EAts. PhilosoAkia. Ed. JuL is the case with myself; for, hav~abrs. Pansii~ 1863.