Adam Augustine
Adam Augustine
Augustine held that all philosophy-including political philosophy-must be measured against the Bible as the touchstone. This worldview naturally included Christian tenets regarding Creation, Fall of Man and Redemption.
He was also an astute theologian with a deep and penetrating understanding of original sin, an important doctrine in Church history for both reflection and practice.
Early Life and Education
Augustine’s parents sacrificed much to provide him with an outstanding education, in hopes that he might one day pursue a career as a rhetor (public speaker). At eighteen, however, reading Cicero’s protreptic dialogue Hortensius ignited his passion for philosophy (Confessions 3.7).
Augustine brought philosophy into his work (such as De Trinitate), making its analysis an inextricable part of biblical interpretation and his writing on human will an integral component of Christian ethics.
Though his sources of Neoplatonism remain obscure, source criticism suggests he was greatly influenced by Platonism as represented by Plotinus and Porphyry. Indeed, his generally favorable view toward Neoplatonic thought helped integrate Greek thinking into Christian and European intellectual traditions; moreover he was an outspoken critic of Manicheism – an Eastern religion that had taken root as Christianity in Northern Africa – which became one of his pet peeves.
Professional Career
Augustine became renowned as both an influential speaker and teacher both within and beyond Christianity. He produced numerous works including biblical commentaries and sermons which would define Christian theology for centuries to come.
At this point in his theological journey, Augustine had transitioned from his Platonic and Manichean background towards a more literal interpretation of Scripture. While still maintaining valid figurative interpretations of Genesis, his focus now was redemptive-historical reading to defend both Old and New Testaments and this required him to give more prominence to a literal Adam who had previously been more muted in his interpretations of Genesis.
Augustine famously used this argument against free will to defend it, which can be found at Catholic Online (2019) and Philosophy Vibe (2018). Book 13 explores this theme further, showing how humanity and all creation depend upon God for spiritual impulses as well as longings to return Him.
Achievement and Honors
Augustine stands out among ancient Christian philosophers as one of the most significant. His views on human society, ethics, just war/peace issues and church/state relationships had an enormous effect on Western culture.
He developed a philosophy of history consistent with his theology. According to this view, God’s plan for human salvation involves an epic struggle between two cities of people: Man and God – using Platonic arguments to prove this thesis while asserting that human reason could never fully comprehend such complex affairs.
Mens Sana in Corpore Sano Award-named after Juvenal’s Latin phrase meaning, “a healthy mind in a healthy body,” and awarding students who make significant academic, professional and community contributions; bestowed upon graduating seniors with highest scholastic records in History major.
Personal Life
Augustine found himself at the crossroads between Christianity, philosophy and politics. He looked to Christian Scriptures as the ultimate authority when considering any kind of philosophy – including political. Additionally he shared late antique thinkers of both pagan and Christian backgrounds a belief that seeking wisdom was central to human wellbeing.
Augustine’s meditations on these issues shaped his doctrinal positions. He was acutely aware of how all humanity had germinally inherited Adam’s sinful nature from their parents; thus in his exposition of Pauline passages on original sin he proposed four hypotheses that each represent an underlying theory; these include traducianism/propagation hypothesis, creationism hypothesis, pre-existence hypothesis and pre-lapsarian theology hypothesis.
Net Worth
Adam Augustine has an estimated net worth of $1.5 billion, comprising numerous American folk art galleries in New York City as well as cars and other assets. A major art collector himself, Adam has amassed an impressive collection of artifacts. Additionally, Adam owns various scrap yards throughout Upstate New York including one located in Owego.
Gigi Hadid’s career as a model has enabled her to amass an immense fortune. She has graced runways for major fashion houses and appeared in commercials. Additionally, she boasts her own fashion line.
She reportedly earns approximately $650,000 per episode as Elaine Benes on Seinfeld and approximately $250,000 for every episode of Veep she appears in. In total, she has won 11 Emmy Awards throughout her career.