JUSTICE IN ST. AUGUSTINE’S CITY OF GOD

Charles Nweke, Ignatius Onwuatuegwu

Abstract


This paper exposes and critically examines St. Augustine’s concept of justice. Informed by the relative need to re-evaluate the concept of justice in relation to the State within the contemporary society, the paper views that most contemporary values are driven by homocentric humanism. Augustine’s masterpiece, City of God (Civitas Dei) the fulcrum of the stated exposé, relates that justice begins with according God His due of worship and service. Compelled by love of God and neighbour, true justice is typical of the city of God, whereas the earthly city propelled by its own kind of love basically lacks justice. For Augustine, commonwealth can derive its meaningfulness only within his context of justice. The paper finds eventually that peace remains the inevitable fruit of Augustine’s justice.

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References


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