Introduction to the Philosophy of Saint Augustine (continued)
them have the use of the five senses, so far as nature has endowed them. You will not deny that, will you?
Ey. Certainly not... 7
CHAPTER 33 The seven levels of the soul's greatness. Its significance in the body, its significance to itself, its significance before God.
The First Level of the Soul
70. Aug. Oh, would that the two of us could put our questions on this topic to a man of great learning—not only that, but one of great eloquence, too; yes, to one wise and perfect in every respect! What efforts he would make to explain, by statement and proof, what the soul means to the body, what it means to itself, what it means before God, to whom it is very near, provided it is perfectly undefiled, and in whom it finds its supreme and complete perfection! But now, since I have no one else to do this for me, I venture this—not to fail you. This, at all events, will be my reward, that while I endeavor to explain to you, untutored as I am, what powers the soul has, I may confidently experience what powers I myself have. But from the start let me rid you of any far-flung and boundless expectations you may have. Do not think that I shall speak of every soul, but only of the human soul, which should be our only concern, if we have concern for ourselves.
In the first place, then, as anyone can easily observe, \the soul by its presence gives life to this earthand death-bound body. It makes of it a unified organism and maintains it as such, keeping it from disintegrating and wasting away. It provides for a proper, balanced distribution of nourishment to the body's members. It preserves the body's harmony and proportion not only in beauty but also in growth and reproduction. Obviously, however, these are faculties which man has in common with the plant world; for we say of plants, too, that they live; we see and acknowledge that each of them is preserved to its own generic being, is nourished, grows, and reproduces itself.
The Second Level of the Soul
71. So, go up another level and see what power the soul has in the senses, which offer a plainer and clearer understanding of what life is. Of course, we should pay no attention to a certain kind of utterly crude perversion which is more wooden than the very