St. Augustine on Time
William Alexander Hernandez
Abstract
In Book XI of the Confessions (397), St. Augustine explores the nature of time. John L. Morrison argues that in
Book XI of the Confessions, St. Augustine puts forth a subjective account of time. On this view, time exists within
the human mind. I am in considerable agreement with Morrison’s interpretation of the Confession XI. However, I
will argue that in On Genesis (388-389), Augustine develops an objective account of time. This means that time is
a creature of God and so exists before human consciousness. It seems that Augustine has two accounts of time,
one objective and the other subjective.
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