St. Augustine: The World

A History of Philosophy: Volume II: Medieval Philosophy

Chapter VI: St. Augustine: The World

關於這個受上帝創造的世界。

1.

這個世界是由上帝的自由意志從虛無中創造出來的。
(這點Plato與Plotinus皆不會贊同)
(這點也是基督教教義中很重要的一點)

2. 關於formless matter

3. Rationes seminales (種子理性)

Rationes seminales (Latin, from the Greek λόγοι σπερματικοὶ or logoi spermatikoi), translated variously as germinal or causal principles, primordial reasons, original factors, seminal reasons or virtues, or seedlike principles, is a theological theory on the origin of species. It is the doctrine that God created the world in seed form, with certain potentialities, which then developed or unfolded accordingly over time; what appears to be change is simply the realization of the preexisting potentialities. The theory is a metaphor of the growth of a plant: much like a planted seed eventually develops into a tree, so when God created the world he planted rationes seminales, from which all life sprung. It is intended to reconcile the belief that God created all things, with the evident fact that new things are constantly developing. (from Wikipedia)

提出種子理性，與其說目的在於建構理論，不如說是在注釋聖經：為何上帝沒有一次把所有東西給創造出來，而分成六天？乃因為上帝實際上是一次創造了種子理性，那些後來的東西都是由種子慢慢發展出來的。

[ratio seminalis]

4 崇尚數字

數字是秩序與形式的原則、美與善的原則、比例與法則的原則。
[受Pythagorean-Platonic 傳統影響，當然也受Plotinus影響。]

5. 關於人的靈魂(靈肉關係)

6. 關於人的靈魂：靈魂是非物質的

7. 靈魂由上帝創造

Traducianism