Bloomsbury On Creation, Science, Disenchantment and the Contours of Being and Knowing (Reading Augustine)

The Reading Augustine series presents short, engaging books offering personal readings of St. Augustine of Hippo's contributions to western philosophical, literary, and religious life. For Augustine the world is replete with meaning. It represents not merely a collection of facts to be catalogued but a repository of truths to be discovered and discerned, a view which contrasts with the one we have inherited as a result of the thought of figures such as Descartes, Newton, and Kant. What difference would it make to see the world as created? Matthew W. Knotts explores this question in close conversation with Augustine, according to whom our nature as Gods creatures determines fundamental aspects of our identity and our knowledge. In a postmodern context informed by a renewed appreciation of the limitations of human nature and reason, Augustine once again emerges as an insightful and compelling source for further reflection. Review Very few books on Augustine truthfully and precisely combine expertise in Augustine's extensive writings, Augustinian scholarship, and modern philosophy. Knotts has impressively accomplished this task in this important book. He provides a subtle and engaging application of Augustine's insights to contemporary hermeneutics and epistemology.Thomas Clemmons, Assistant Professor of Church History, Catholic University of America, USA About the Author Matthew W. Knotts is Visiting Assistant Professor of Theology at Gannon University in Erie, Pennsylvania, USA. He has also lectured at Seton Hill University and St. Vincent's College. Prior to that he held a post-doctoral research position at KU Leuven (Belgium), where he completed his PhD as a fellow of the Flanders Research Foundation (FWO). His work has appeared in Philosophy & Theology and Studia Patristica, among others. Dr. Knotts has presented his research at conferences and meetings across the US, Europe, and Australia and has performed research stays at the University of Chicago and in Melbourne at the Institute for Religion and Critical Inquiry of the Australian Catholic University. From 2014 to 2018 he served as the Book Review Editor of the journal Louvain Studies.