St. Augustine of Hippo was a bishop in the 4th and 5th century and also a pre-existentialist. He influenced philosophers like Søren Kierkegaard, Albert Camus, Martin Heidegger and Miguel de Unamuno.

Saint Augustine of Hippo

Today he is mostly known for his criticism of the roman empire. From his critics, we find evidence that our modern western society can be compared to the old roman empire.

There are two pillars on which this comparison will be built upon:

Roman empire in the 4th century

1. Happiness from the outside

The romans had an urge to control everything, even nature. They build up a technological empire with as example their aqueducts.They were highly efficient with their administrative structure and their homogenous legal system. They were also good in developing existing technologies so they could be used more efficiently.

Also, they thought that happiness could be found by accumulating wealth, buying things, let buildings in their names be built and an excessive sexual life with orgies. (this is not a moral judgement. I don´t care what other people do in their bedroom)

In our modern society we find a similar and higher developed technological system which grows at an exponential rate. Heidegger criticised that technology would become a “Gestell” (frame), by which we measure all other things. Like measuring nature in their usefulness to contributing to the technological system.

We also have a tendency of seeking happiness through the accumulation of capital, through spendings (most Americans are in debt), buildings to peoples own personal glory, like the trump towers and also the sexual life of people becomes more excessive with the rise of things like open relationships.

Plutarch

Roman philosophers like Plutarch could be compared to modern self-help coaches, who are interested in personal development not to find peace of mind or happiness in themselves, but in the outside world and in becoming more efficient contributors to the technological system. They thought that human beings could be perfected.

2. A just social order

Romans thought that people who got wealthy were privileged by (the) god(s), so it wasn´t sparkish to show off the wealth they got, but it was a showing of their virtues, their goodness and their selectedness by god.

In our modern society productivity is the highest virtue and money and fame are the indicators of it.

Just look at the last presidential race. It was a millionaire, who is now president, against the wife of a former president, with connections to some other rich people. Both parties had candidates who would be more skilled inthe tasks of a president, but which personality wouldn´t fit.

We also believe that our society is permeable and that everyone could make it from a dishwasher to a millionaire, so that everybody who isn´t wealthy is a lazy slacker who isn´t motivated to do things which contributes to the technological system, when maybe this person just didn´t see money as a virtue and are driven by other things.

Augustines Criticism

Augustine is the inventor of the famous original sin, which said that humans weren´t perfect because of the sin of Adam and Eva. If we remove the religious component we come to an earthly conclusion: Human aren´t born perfect and were never meant to be perfect, because we are humans.

Augustine also says that god didn´t give money and fame to that people that were virtuous. He holds up a two city theory, the “city of god” and the “city of men”.

In the city of god the “good” would triumph over “evil” and virtue would reign. Money and status would be indicators of virtues here. But a city like this could only be founded by someone like Jesus Christ.

In the city of men, money and status are not linked to virtue. Justice is not given in such a society.

Let´s take the religious component out again and we have the following statement: money and fame are not a virtue nor a sign of virtues.