The Philosophy of Saint Augustine by Agostino Trapè provides a systematic presentation of the philosophical thought of one of the most influential thinkers in the Western intellectual tradition. Beginning with the relationship between reason and faith, the author demonstrates how Augustine develops an original Christian philosophy in which philosophical inquiry and divine revelation are mutually integrated. The central principles of Augustine’s thought are interiority, participation, and immutability, upon which he constructs a comprehensive metaphysics, epistemology, and philosophical anthropology. Particular attention is devoted to Augustine’s doctrine of the knowledge of truth through divine illumination, to the human person as the image of God, and to humanity’s orientation toward God as the sole source of truth, goodness, and beatitude. The book also examines the fundamental metaphysical questions of the creation of the world, the nature of time, the relationship between soul and body, free will, evil, and the human quest for happiness. Trapè convincingly demonstrates how Augustine transformed the heritage of ancient philosophy, especially Platonism, by integrating it into a Christian vision of reality while rejecting those of its elements that are incompatible with divine revelation. The Philosophy of Saint Augustine thus emerges as a dynamic synthesis of metaphysical reflection, existential experience, and theological inquiry, directed toward the knowledge of God and the human person. The work also highlights the enduring relevance of Augustine’s thought for contemporary philosophy, particularly regarding the relationship between reason and faith, the human person, freedom, truth, and the meaning of life. The Croatian edition, accompanied by an introductory study and translated by Hrvoje Relja, makes this classic work of philosophical heritage accessible to both the Croatian academic community and the wider reading public.
