This study outlines both the practical and theoretical position of Augustine as regards pagan divination which he believed in in certain respects. It highlights how Augustine’s’ behaviour follows a parabola which starts with the adhesion to and conviction in the reality of prophetic practices and concludes with De divinatione: Here he minimises the divining act of demons to the extracognitive possibilities which they can carry out only thanks to a few physical characteristics, and from the airy matter of their bodies which allows them to move nimbly through space and time and so come into possession of knowledge unattainable for man which leads to the creation of misleading beliefs.
La ricerca delinea la posizione di Agostino, sia pratica che teorica, nei confronti della divinazione pagana a cui egli, in vario modo, credette. Si dimostra come l'atteggiamento di Agostino segua una parabola che parte da adesione e convinzione nella realtà delle pratiche divinatorie e si conclude con il De divinatione: qui, egli riduce l'azione divinatoria dei demoni alle possibilità extracognitive loro consentite solo da particolari caratteristiche fisiche, dalla materia aerea del loro corpo che consente loro di muoversi agilmente nello spazio e nel tempo pervenendo, così, a forme di conoscenza impossibili per l'uomo e per questo causa di ingannevoli credenze.
Vera o falsa profezia: quale criterio di discrimine? (Aug. civ. Dei 18, 41, 3)
SARDELLA, Teresa
2003-01-01
Abstract
This study outlines both the practical and theoretical position of Augustine as regards pagan divination which he believed in in certain respects. It highlights how Augustine’s’ behaviour follows a parabola which starts with the adhesion to and conviction in the reality of prophetic practices and concludes with De divinatione: Here he minimises the divining act of demons to the extracognitive possibilities which they can carry out only thanks to a few physical characteristics, and from the airy matter of their bodies which allows them to move nimbly through space and time and so come into possession of knowledge unattainable for man which leads to the creation of misleading beliefs.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.