The Search for the Self in Augustine's Confessions and Its Relevance to Modern Morality

Abstract

Augustine of Hippo is not only a great thinker of the ancient and medieval world but also a landmark of self-search and inner reflection. Modern philosophers such as Charles Taylor recognize Augustine's contribution to the development of the understanding of personal identity in the contemporary context.Through his Confessions, the importance of the search for the Divine has been highlighted and the fact that this search is not only an act of self-discovery but also leads to deep reflections on human nature and on the way sin operates in our existence. The paper explores the moral norms that emerge from Augustine's concept of the "inner man" and their relevance to modern society. Augustine highlighted the paradigm shift in understanding the self in relation to God and divine love, and his vision is necessary in the contemporary context where we see an emphasis on individualism and inner searching.