A New Approach to Late Antique Philosophy: Augustine's Contribution to Christian Psychagogy

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K00084
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 01040:History of thought-related
• Research Institution: Tokyo Gakugei University
• Principal Investigator: Kamimura Naoki 東京学芸大学, 教育学部, 研究員 (40535324)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: アウグスティヌス / 教父 / キリスト教 / 古代末期 / 心性 / 精神の修練 / 教導 / 自己への配慮

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This research project analyses Augustine's Sermons and Epistles intending to overcome the anachronisms in the history of philosophy committed by the study of the "Spiritual Exercises" by the French historian of philosophy Pierre Hadot, who revolutionised the study of the history of ancient philosophy. This project reveals that the concept of "psychagogy" is defined from a Christian perspective, with the ultimate goal of the "spiritual exercises" from the perspective of ancient Greek philosophy, set alongside the proximate goal of scriptural interpretation, which represents a place of inquiry appropriate to all human beings.
This project has been collaborative, leveraging my established international research network. I have continued to present research findings at international conferences, fostering mutual exchanges with esteemed researchers in Australia, the USA, Canada, Singapore, and Hong Kong. This collaborative approach has enriched my research and broadened my perspectives.

Free Research Field

人文学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究は、古代のキリスト教思想家を代表するアウグスティヌスの思想を古代哲学の伝統のなかで捉え直すことによって、未開拓の主題である「教父思想における「教導」という体系の意義と可能性」を扱うという独自性を有する。また、古代ヨーロッパ史・初期キリスト教研究における諸研究の成果との架橋に着手し、従来の研究動向の偏りを修正するという独自性を有する。これら二つの独自性によって、古典古代・ヘレニズムの哲学的な営みを捉えるための、またアウグスティヌスの思想を北アフリカ教父思想の展開のうちに位置づけるための新たな研究の可能性を開くことを可能にした。