Within the confines of the Augustinian
philosophy we find a possible solution to an age old philosophical labyrinth: what is evil?
Augustine grappled with this problem throughout much of his early adult
life. While struggling with his personal
iniquity he embraced the Manichean's philosophy. Later, upon further investigation he
developed a Monistic theory that had Platonic roots at its base. The pinnacle of Augustine's explanation of
evil is described in terms of privation and perspective, it is from these seeds
that evil could be rationally understood.
This paper will endeavour to trace Augustine's conception of evil from a
flimsy philosophical foundation to a sturdy one.
