Augustine and Augustinianisms Unit
Augustine and "the Public"
As a bishop, preacher, theologian, and correspondent, Augustine engaged a range of publics by virtue of his role as both an ecclesial and political figure as well as the range of modes in which he wrote. He was also deeply concerned with the social, ethical, and political effects – for good and for ill – of a range of cultural media (including literature, philosophy, preaching, rhetoric) as well as public events (including rites and festivals). We invite papers from any and all disciplines examining the theme of “the public” in Augustine’s thought and reception, especially with a view to how this intersects with themes of freedom and domination. Papers might address, for example, the concept of the public or of “counterpublics” in relation to Augustine and Augustinianisms; Augustine as a public theologian and rhetorician; particular themes or characteristics of Augustine’s engagement with various publics; or how Augustine has been received and deployed to serve public or political ends.
Augustine the African
Supplementing our open call for papers, we are planning a roundtable discussion of Catherine Conybeare's forthcoming book, Augustine the African. Using extant letters and other shards of evidence, Conybeare retraces Augustine’s travels, revealing how his groundbreaking works emerge from an exile’s perspective within an African context. In its depiction of this Christian saint, Augustine the African upends conventional wisdom and traces core ideas of Christian thought to their origins on the African continent.
Participatory Thought in the Platonic and Augustinian Tradition
The past several years have witnessed renewed interest in participatory metaphysics, a key conceptual element of the Platonic tradition. Participation has been employed in different ways to conceptualize the relationship between God and creation, transcendence and immanence, and the One in the many. In this context Augustine, and numerous figures influenced by his thought, have made important and innovative contributions to this tradition. As such, it represents a theological and philosophical conversation that has continued across centuries. This panel invites papers that consider participatory metaphysics that examine either Augustine and Augustine-influenced thinkers, as well as papers that consider participation in the wider Platonic tradition.
This Unit provides a forum for the historical and constructive study of issues relating to the life and thought of Augustine of Hippo, including how it was received in various eras and how it might be a resource for religious thought today. We work collaboratively with other units and constituencies of AAR to promote scholarly conversations across fields and methodologies. We are committed to providing an inclusive scholarly environment where new voices are heard and critical analyses advanced. Calls for papers, new publications, and other updates in the field of Augustinian Studies can be found on our "AAR Augustine & Augustinianisms Unit" Facebook page.