Love and friendship in the thought of Augustine of Hippo

López J.I. · Revista Chilena de Estudios Medievales (2023)

Resumen

The following paper explores the value of friendship on Augustine of Hippo’s thought. In the first place, fundamental characteristics of the right love o neighbor will be identified making use of the conceptual richness deployed by the Hipponense to refer to love (caritas, frui, diligere, agape, ordo, pondus). Then, an approximation to the Augustinian vision of friendship, understood as a privileged way of loving neighbour, will be suggested. Thirdly, differences and similarities between the Augustinian thought and the Greco-Roman tradition will be identified, making special focus on the philosophy of Cicero. Finally, the value of friendship and its relation with happiness, which is no other thing than the communal joy of God, will be exposed.

Instituciones: Universidad Católica San Pablo