UNEASINESS AND HAPPINESS

THE ANTHROPOLOGICAL JOURNEY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE

Abstract

The aim of this article is to delve into the complex Augustinian thought, seeking to understand his anthropological conception. A lover of truth, Saint Augustine expended all his existential energies in order to find the much sought-after tranquility of the 'heart.' In this interim, the problem that arises concerns the desire for happiness and the very concept of a happy life within the intricacies of Augustinian thought. In the Augustinian itinerary, interiority emerges as the path capable of transcending the individual himself and, thus, leading him to a happy life. Above all, the Augustinian journey is existential, marked by disillusionments, nourished by hope, and strengthened by grace, which comes to the aid of human nature. Only with divine assistance can man tread a path of fulfillment and, consequently, happiness. Key reflective moments of this brief study, from Augustinian thought, will include the desire inscribed in the 'heart' of man for happiness, the concept of happiness, and how to attain it.