De Pulchra, pax omnium rerum tranquillitas ordinis. Przyczynki do estetyki św. Augustyna

Abstract

St. Augustine theory maintains the objectivity of beauty alongside other transcendental properties of being. Unity, equality, number, proportion, and order are the main elements in Augustine’s theory of beauty. Acquiring the knowledge originating in beauty leads to the perfection of life, thus bringing us closer to God.  St. Augustine taught that unity is the form of all beauty. In a sense, God’s beauty emanates out to natural things through His act of creation. All created things are realizations of divine ideas and bear a trace of similarity to God. The soul, which is open to these ideas, is the link that joins with the divine ideas. While building an objectivist theory, Augustine drew from considerations of geometry, astronomy and mathematics. Number, for Augustine, measures rhythm and everything is beautiful that is in due order. Augustine believes in a hierarchy of beautiful things, based on how much form they possess or lack, for example mathematical truths cannot be determined by convention. Augustine’s multifaceted approach to the idea of God was particularly valuable for later ethical thought.