Against The Academics
Saint Augustine
Contents
Introduction
The Dialogues of Cassiciacum
The Interlocutors
Augustine
Alypius
Licentius
Trygetius
Navigius
Romanianus
The Contra Academicos and the Academia of Cicero
The Importance of the Contra Academicos
Augustine and Neo-Platonism
Plotinus or Porphyry
The Historicity of the Dialogues of Cassiciacum
The Evidence in Favor of Historicity
The Evidence Against Historicity
Conclusion on the Question go Historicity
Text
Book One: Truth and Happiness
Preface
The Problem
Is the Mere Search for Truth Sufficient for Happiness?
What is Error?
What is Wisdom?
New Definition of Wisdom
Epilogue
Book Two: The Doctrine of the New Academy
Exhortation to Romanianus
Summary of Previous Debate
Doctrine of the New Academy
The Position of the New Academy
Probability and Verisimilitude
The “Probable”
What was the Real Teaching of the New Academy?
Book Three: Wisdom and Knowledge
Man’s Need of Truth
Is Man Independent of Fortune?
The Difference between the Wise Man and the Philosopher
The Wise Man Knows Truth
The Question of Assent
Truth Revealed only by a Divinity
Augustine’s Refutation of the New Academy
The Two Principles of the Academy
Something Can be Perceived
Assent Can be Given
The “Probable” Insufficient and Dangerous
Augustine’s Theory of a Secret Doctrine in the Academy
Platonism and Christianity
Notes
To the Introduction
To Book One
To Book Two
To Book Three
Index