Augustine: the censored page!
A saint's secret sex life revealed!
This article is a look behind the scenes of the making of my book Philosophy, and invites readers to consider purchasing their own copy through the current crowdfunding.
Sex! If there ever was a philosopher who struggled with this topic, it was Augustine. He led a life (in his own words) “full of revelries and dishonesties”, and converted later to Christianism, preaching how we should not give in to lust but focus on higher things.
The original page on Augustine’s philosophy shows him literally in the act:
Oh dear, what am I doing?
Must be that awful EVIL into it again.
I’ll pray to God that he may make me pure and chaste…
…just NOT YET!
As a Manicheist, Augustine believed in Evil as a force from outside. But then:
Evil is not an autonomous entity, it is an ABSENCE OF GOOD. Evil occurs in the world because we don’t use our WILL properly…
But… that makes me RESPONSIBLE for my own sins…!
This page was printed in The Netherlands as I drew it, full nudity and all - but when it was prepared for publication in the US, I was advised to cover it up, which I did:
The original UNCENSORED page is now for sale in my crowdfunding! Here it is in its entirety:
In the top, you can see the notes I took before drawing:
Augustine’s philosophy
During his youth: Manicheism - Good vs Evil - “Lord, make me steadfast, but not yet”
A. led a ‘licentious’ life himself
later Neoplatonism: evil = absence of good → Free Will
One ὅν ?
Intellect/Spirit νοῦς
-non-matter
WorldSoul
- matter
“Evil is something outside of me! I can’t help that I’m sinning!”
“Evil is within me - it’s a choice I am making and for which I am responsible…!”
This very special page can be yours for 250 dollar! It will be sent to you with a print of the finished page (you can choose if you want that in the censored or uncensored version) and it could hang on your wall like this:
The crowdfunding is already well over half of its goal, with still three weeks to go. Check it out for this and other rewards!