Introduction to the Philosophy of Saint Augustine
things that are brought close, while the brightness is diffused farther and more widely; in like manner by the power of understanding that is present in wisdom the nearer things, such as the rational souls, grow warm, but the more remote things, such as bodies, are not reached by the heat of being wise, but are suffused by the light of numbers. This is perhaps obscure to you; for no visible thing can be made a perfect analogy of something invisible. Only note this, which is enough for the question in hand and which reveals itself even to humbler minds like ours; that even if it cannot be clear to us whether number is in wisdom or from wisdom, or wisdom itself is in number or from number, or whether it can be shown that they are names for one thing; it is certainly manifest that both are true and true immutably.
CHAPTER 12 There is a single immutable truth in all understandings, and it is superior to our minds. 33. Wherefore you will certainly not deny that there is an immutable truth, containing all things that are immutably true, which you cannot say is yours or mine or any one man's; but that in some wonderful way a mysterious and universal light, as it were, proffers itself to all in common. But who would say that that which is commonly present to all who reason and understand belongs properly to the nature of any one of them? For you remember, I think, what we said a little while ago about the bodily senses; namely, that those things which we perceive in common by the sense of the eyes or ears, such as colors and sounds, do not pertain to the nature of our eyes or ears but are there for all to perceive in common. So too it will not do for you to say that those things which we see in common, each with his own mind, pertain to the nature of the mind of either one of us. For what the eyes of two persons see at the same time cannot be said to be the eyes of this man or that but is some third thing to which the gaze of both is turned.
E. That is manifestly true.
34. A. Do you think then that this truth, which we have been discussing at such length and in which, single though it be, we have discerned so many things, is more excellent than our minds or equal to them or is it even inferior?
But if it were inferior we would judge not according to it put concerning it; just as we judge of bodies because they are below us, and say commonly not only that they are so or not so, but that they ought to be so or not so. So too of our minds we know not only that the mind is so, but frequently also that it should be so. And of bodies to be sure we judge thus when we say: this is not as white as it should be, or not as square, and many similar things. But of minds: it is less apt than it should be, or less gentle, or less vehement; according as the manner of our character shows itself. And we judge of these things according to those inner rules of truth that we discern in common; but no one judges in any way of the rules themselves. For when anyone says that eternal things are better than temporal or that seven and three are ten, no one says that it ought to be so; but knowing that it is so, he does not correct it as an examiner but rejoices in it as a discoverer.
If again the truth were equal to our minds, it would be also mutable. For our minds perceive it sometimes more and sometimes less, and thereby acknowledge themselves mutable, while it, continuing in itself is neither enhanced when we see it more, nor diminished when we see it less, but whole and uncorrupted it makes glad those who turn to it and punishes with blindness those who turn away. But what then, if also we judge of those same minds according to that truth, while we can in no way judge of it? For we say of our mind: it understands less than it should or it understands as much as it should. But a mind should understand in the measure that it is able to draw near to and cleave to immutable truth. Wherefore, if that truth be neither inferior nor equal to our minds, it remains that it is higher and more excellent.
CHAPTER 13 Exhortation to embrace truth, which alone makes men happy. 35. I promised however, as you will remember, that I would show you something more sublime than our mind and reason. Behold, it is truth! Embrace it, if you can, and enjoy it and delight in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.
(Ps. 37:4) For what do you desire more than to be happy? And who is so happy as he who enjoys truth—unshaken and immutable and also excellent?
Do men, forsooth, proclaim themselves happy, when lusting with great desire they embrace the fair bodies of wives or even harlots: and shall we doubt that we are happy in the embrace of truth?
Men proclaim themselves happy, when with heat-parched throats they reach a pure and abundant spring; or famished, find an elaborate and bountiful repast: and will we deny that we are happy who are watered and fed by truth?
We are wont to hear the voices of those who proclaim