Idipsum in Augustine's CONFESSIONS
Introduction
Interpreting this term idipsum in Augustine's Enarrationes in Ps. 121, 3, Aimé Solignac translates idipsum as Being itself (L'Être même) in his supplementary notes to the Confessions (BA 14, 550-552). According to Solignac, firstly idipsum has a biblical meaning; ego sum qui sum and qui est' in Exodus.
Secondly it has a metaphysical meaning; Being or existence in the precise meaning. Being unchangeable. Being everlasting. Solignac's conclusion is in general correct. However, it seems to me the connotation of term is more subtle.
Furthermore any effort of defining of this term idipsum is impossible. Idipsum is idipsum. Augustine himself says: what is idipsum? How can I find any other expression than idipsum?
In my paper I would like to try in the following order to approach to the puzzling significance of this term idipsum in the Confessions.
i) Idipsum in the case of Augustine's reading Psalm 4 (Conf. 4, 8-11)
ii)......
Join Now or Login to view the rest of this paper.
Approximate Word Count: 3429
Approximate Pages: 14 (260 words per double-spaced page) |