Introduction to the Philosophy of Saint Augustine
this power? The fact that man is the image of God. Hence by way of reproach it is said to some: Do not become like the horse and the mule, who have no understanding. (Ps. 31:9) But understanding is one thing, reason another. For we have reason even before we are able to understand, but we cannot understand unless we have reason. Hence, man is an animal endowed with reason, or, to speak more precisely and briefly, a rational animal whose very nature is to reason, and who has reason before he understands. What makes him eager to understand is the fact that he is endowed with the gift of reason.
4. Therefore we ought to cherish above all the faculty in virtue of which we excel beasts; we ought to refashion and, as it were, reform it. But who can do this except the creator who fashioned it. We were able to deform the image of God in us, ° but we cannot reform it. We share, then, to sum it up briefly, being with wood and stones, life with trees, sensation with beasts, understanding with angels. We discern colors by sight, sounds by hearing, odors by smelling, tastes by tasting, warmth by touch, morals by understanding. Every man desires to be understood, no one does not desire to understand, but not every one desires to believe. If someone says to me: "I would understand in order that I mayj/— believe," I answer: "Believe so that you may understand." When this sort of controversy arises between us, with him saying to me, "Let me understand in order to believe," and me answering, "Rather, believe, so that you may understand"—going to a judge with this sort of controversy neither of us should anticipate a decision in his favor. Where shall we find a judge? After considering everybody I doubt that we can find a better judge than the man through whom God spoke. Consequently in this dispute between us let us not turn to secular authors. The prophet, not the poet, shall be our judge.
5. When the blessed apostle Peter and two other disciples of the Lord Christ, James and John, were on the mountain with our Lord Himself, he heard a voice coming down from heaven: This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased: hear ye him."
(IL Pet.-1:17) In relating this the aforementioned apostle said in his letter: We heard this voice coming down from heaven when we were on the holy mountain. After saying: We heard this voice coming down from heaven, he added: And in the message of the prophets we have something still more certain. (II Pet. 1:18-19) The voice sounded from heaven, but the message of the prophet was more certain. Pay attention, dearly beloved, and may the Lord help both my will and your expectation, so that I may say what I