不朽的國度：奧古斯丁論國家存續

Abstract

奧古斯丁的年代，羅馬帝國面臨巨大危機，異教徒抨擊基督教信仰，視後者為罪魁。本文回溯至太平盛世，以維吉爾詩作為起始，與奧古斯丁思想對照。奧古斯丁指出德行與和平是國家存續的關鍵，羅馬英雄德行的背後是統治慾，敬虔則是統治手段；他重塑德行典範，避免驕傲毀壞國家安定。羅馬概念的和平有著強烈國族主義，奧古斯丁則放眼普世和平，戰爭應只用於防禦而非侵略。奧古斯丁的德行觀與和平觀建立於基督教信仰，注重現世國家存續，同時以上帝之城的眼光超越本位主義。

In Augustine’s time, Roman Empire was under crises. Pagans blamed Christianity for the falling state. This thesis begins with Vergil’s epic as a comparison to Augustine’s thought. Augustine made it clear that virtue and peace are the key factors for sustaining a state. He transformed the idea of virtue since the virtue of Roman heroes was the lust of domination and Roman piety was a means to that end. In contrast to Roman concept of peace, which implied Rome should rule over the world, Augustine cared about a real universal peace. Since then, wars should only be waged to defend than to invade. Based on Christianity, his ideas on virtue and peace help the earthly states sustain and get rid of “Roman-centered parochialism.”