Corpo e alma em Agostinho de Hipona uma relação de preservação, interdependência e cuidado

Abstract

This thesis aims to understand the relation between body and soul in Augustine as one consisting in attention and care in the philosophical anthropology of Augustine of Hippo. We then ask ourselves: what type of relation is there between body and soul? Is it conflicting or harmonious? To answer these questions, we use as main resources some texts by Augustine, which differ chronologically, but which contribute to the problem proposed here. These texts, such as The Trinity, Commentary on Genesis, The Greatness of the Soul, The Nature of Good, Music, On Free Choice of the Will, Christian Doctrine, among others, provided basic information, compiled into summaries and which served as the basis for the textual, argumentative, and conclusive production of the text. In the first two chapters, we address the ideas that the soul, for Augustine, is an incorporeal substance, which is not spatially located in the body, and which has functions that can improve its performance over time. The faculties of the soul form memory, intelligence and will, reflecting the trinitarian image of God. The body, in turn, created by God, also has traces of its creator, but is not in his image and likeness. However, it is also a good, just like all materiality. The body also has imperfect trinities of God. Body and soul united form the human being. In this way, what we understand as a “self” that grants identity to its human being is not only in the soul, but in its union with a body. This union happens because the soul must, in one of its functions, take care of the body, maintaining its unity and good health. In this way, it exercises two movements aimed at the body. The first one involves stirring elements of nature that are found in the body so that they animate it, granting it autonomous movements. Body animation also keeps organs functioning and systems performing their roles so that the body remains alive. The second movement of the soul is sensitivity. Through the body, the soul can feel and grasp the measure of corporeal things in the world around it. This occurs because, when an external object stimulates one of the sensory organs and alters the natural state of the body, the soul directs its attention to this fact, intending to protect the body from any harmful situation. Finally, we emphasize that the relationship between body and soul in Augustine of Hippo is a reciprocal movement. The soul protects the body from dangers that could harm it; while the body allows the soul to access information from the material world, thus forming knowledge of it. This knowledge of the physical world, which the soul keeps in its memory, is called science by Augustine.