Stephenson, Christine Felicidad
(2023)
Remembering Augustine: The Architectonic Structure of His Theology of Memoria.
PhD thesis, University of Nottingham.
Abstract
Augustine recognized memory to be pivotal in his journey to know and understand God and in his remembrance of God. His theology of memoria is complex, multi-faceted, and best described in Confessiones X. Architectonics, an investigatory “tool” used to examine Augustinian memory, reveals in greater depth Augustine’s logical, profound, and multi-faceted approach in his interrogation of memory. Architectonics has unveiled four main neoteric discoveries. First, the architectonic structure of memory which elucidates the foundational pillars of memory in Conf. X and his earlier writings. These occur in a particular sequence: location of memoria, power of memory, sense-perception, teaching/learning, recollection and forgetfulness, images, phantasiae and phantasmata, transiency of memory, the beata vita. Second, Arc-hitectonics (Arc) and memory where Arc, a unique memory gene involved in neuronal communications, identifies a potential genomic memory process that provides knowledge regarding the inner workings of memory. Third, architectonics, time, and memory where a model for the simultaneity of the three cardinal “moments” of time - creation, the Incarnation, and eternity, with temporal time - past, present, and future, and physical time illustrated by the Arc gene. Arc in physical time intercalates with eternity and temporal time. Four, the theory of recapitulation where XIII recapitulates I-XII as viewed through creation and other motifs present in Confessiones. The architectonic investigation of Augustinian memory provokes a new way of thinking about memory and Confessiones – a re-thinking of Augustine’s theology of memoria.
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