Modern Restlessness, from Hobbes to Augustine
Only with difficulty do modern readers grasp the full import of Augustine’s confession, “Restless is our heart, until it rests in you”, or seriously consider that it might be true. An unexpected remedy is to be found in reading Thomas Hobbes, who introduces and defends the view of happiness that is...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2015-05-01
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| Series: | Religions |
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| Online Access: | http://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/6/2/626 |
| _version_ | 1828722803841433600 |
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| author | Peter Busch |
| author_facet | Peter Busch |
| author_sort | Peter Busch |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Only with difficulty do modern readers grasp the full import of Augustine’s confession, “Restless is our heart, until it rests in you”, or seriously consider that it might be true. An unexpected remedy is to be found in reading Thomas Hobbes, who introduces and defends the view of happiness that is now commonly accepted without argument. According to Hobbes, human beings find their happiness not in a single, supreme good but in many objects, the securing of which requires a lifelong quest for power. But this teaching, influential and revealing though it is, fails to satisfy. Meditating on that dissatisfaction is a first step towards more serious engagement with Augustine. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T12:39:00Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f630262aaf7b47659b2b8189b584bff7 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2077-1444 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T12:39:00Z |
| publishDate | 2015-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Religions |
| spelling | doaj.art-f630262aaf7b47659b2b8189b584bff72022-12-22T03:32:50ZengMDPI AGReligions2077-14442015-05-016262663710.3390/rel6020626rel6020626Modern Restlessness, from Hobbes to AugustinePeter Busch0Augustine and Culture Seminar Program, Villanova University, 103 Saint Augustine Center, 800 Lancaster Ave, Villanova, PA 19085, USAOnly with difficulty do modern readers grasp the full import of Augustine’s confession, “Restless is our heart, until it rests in you”, or seriously consider that it might be true. An unexpected remedy is to be found in reading Thomas Hobbes, who introduces and defends the view of happiness that is now commonly accepted without argument. According to Hobbes, human beings find their happiness not in a single, supreme good but in many objects, the securing of which requires a lifelong quest for power. But this teaching, influential and revealing though it is, fails to satisfy. Meditating on that dissatisfaction is a first step towards more serious engagement with Augustine.http://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/6/2/626AugustineHobbeshappinessrestlessnessmodernityinterdisciplinary educationpedagogy |
| spellingShingle | Peter Busch Modern Restlessness, from Hobbes to Augustine Religions Augustine Hobbes happiness restlessness modernity interdisciplinary education pedagogy |
| title | Modern Restlessness, from Hobbes to Augustine |
| title_full | Modern Restlessness, from Hobbes to Augustine |
| title_fullStr | Modern Restlessness, from Hobbes to Augustine |
| title_full_unstemmed | Modern Restlessness, from Hobbes to Augustine |
| title_short | Modern Restlessness, from Hobbes to Augustine |
| title_sort | modern restlessness from hobbes to augustine |
| topic | Augustine Hobbes happiness restlessness modernity interdisciplinary education pedagogy |
| url | http://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/6/2/626 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT peterbusch modernrestlessnessfromhobbestoaugustine |