Augustine: Earlier Writings (continued)
AUGUSTINE: EARLIER WRITINGS someone to know it. A.—That is why I define in this way, and do not fear that my definition should be disapproved because it is too short. For that which is seems to me to be true. R.— Then, if whatever is is true there will be nothing false. A.—You have put me into great difficulty, and I do not know what to answer. So, though I do not wish to learn by any other method than this of question and answer, nevertheless I am afraid to be questioned. vi, 9. R.—God to whom we have committed ourselves will doubtless lend his aid and deliver us from these difficulties. Only let us believe and ask him with the greatest devotion.
A.—Certainly I would do nothing more willingly at this point, for nowhere have I experienced such darkness. God, our Father, who dost bid us pray, and givest what we ask of thee if only we are better and live better lives as we pray. Hear me as I grope in this darkness and stretch out to me thy right hand. Cause thy light to shine upon me. Recall me from error. Led by thee may I return to myself and to thee. Amen. R,—Give me your utmost attention. Listen and watch. A.—Has anything occurred to you which can save us? R,—Listen. A,—I am doing nothing else.
10. R.—First, let us ventilate the problem of falsity. A.— wonder if falsity will be found to be anything else than what is not as it seems. R.—Listen rather, and let us first interrogate our senses. What the eyes see is not said to be false unless it has some resemblance to the truth. For example, a man seen in a dream is not a true man but a false one, just because there is resemblance to the truth. No one would say of a dog seen in a dream that it was a man. It is a false dog because it resembles a real dog. A.—It is as you say. R,—If any one in his waking hours saw a horse and thought he saw a man, he would be deceived because he seemed to see something resembling a man. For if nothing appeared to him but the shape of a horse he could not suppose that he had seen a man. A.—Quite so. R.—A painted tree, a face in a mirror, the motion of towers as seen by navigators, the broken oar in water—all these things we say are false for no other reason than that they have some resemblance to truth. A,—I agree. R.—So we are deceived about twins, about eggs, about different seals stamped with one signet-ring, and about other similar things. A.—I follow you and agree entirely. R.—As regards visible things it is resemblance that is the mother of falsity. A.—I cannot deny it.
11. R.—Unless I am mistaken, this whole thicket can be divided into two classes. In the one the resemblance is between