Ep. 19 - Awakening from the Meaning Crisis - Augustine and Aquinas

In this episode of "Awakening from the Meaning Crisis," Dr. John Vervaeke discusses Augustine's synthesis of Christianity, Neoplatonism, and Gnosticism, highlighting Augustine's personal struggles and his integration of these philosophies. Vervaeke explains how Augustine combined the Aristotelian worldview with the normative order of Plotinus and the narrative order of Christianity to address the problem of evil and the search for meaning. The discussion transitions to the medieval worldview and the impact of the Roman Empire's collapse, and the subsequent division within Christianity. The episode concludes by exploring how the rediscovery of Aristotle and a shift in reading practices, from communal recitation to silent, propositional reading, led to a crisis within Christianity, setting the stage for Thomas Aquinas' attempt to reconcile faith and reason.