La The Augustine’s Critique to the Corporeity of the Soul: A Reception of Tertullian’s Thought

Abstract

The present work proposes to analyze the way in which Augustine of Hippo receives the thought of Tertullian, a Latin Christian author, also an African, from whom he is separated by some 200 years. The main mentions of the Carthaginian take place in the Augustinian critique of the conception of the corporeality of the soul defended by Tertullian. In order to be able to analyze the arguments and philosophical concepts used by the Hipponense in the development of his critique, we present, first of all, a brief introduction to Tertullian (c. 160- c. 220), dwelling on some crucial passages of his work, titled De anima (208/210). Secondly, we analyze the discussion carried out by Augustine regarding the thesis of the corporeality of the human soul in De Genesi ad litteram, and in De anima et eius origine, (c. 419-420). Finally we evaluate Augustin’s position regarding the thesis of traducianism of the human soul, certainly linked to the corporalism defended by Tertullian.