Politics and the Earthly City in Augustine's City of God

In this volume, Veronica Roberts Ogle offers a new reading of Augustine's political thought as it is presented in City of God. Focusing on the relationship between politics and the earthly city, she argues that a precise understanding of Augustine's vision can only be reached through a careful consideration of the work's rhetorical strategy and sacramental worldview. Ogle draws on Christian theology and political thought, moral philosophy, and semiotic theory to make her argument. Laying out Augustine's understanding of the earthly city, she proceeds by tracing out his rhetorical strategy and concludes by articulating his sacramental vision and the place of politics within it. Ogle thus suggests a new way of determining the status of politics in Augustine's thought. Her study clarifies seemingly contradictory passages in his text, highlights the nuance of his position, and captures the unity of his vision as presented in City of God.

Introduction; 1. The parodic city: Augustine's account of the earthly city and its logic of self-love; 2. The sack of Roma Aeterna: Pride, custom, and the possibility of cultural renewal in book; 3. Exposing the worldly worldviews of empires, patriots, and philosophers: Augustine's psychagogic strategy; 4. Roman history retold: Situating Augustine's political pessimism within his psychagogic argument; 5. The sacramental worldview and its anti-sacramental distortion: Exploring Augustine's theory of signs and its implications for the two cities doctrine; 6. The status of politics: re-reading City of God 19 in light of Augustine's sacramental vision; Conclusion.

Veronica Roberts Ogle is Assistant Professor of Philosophy at Assumption University, Worcester, Massachusetts.