Below you will find basic information on the nine different English versions of St. Augustine’s
On Free Choice of the Will.
There is also a link to a downloadable PDF file of the complete text of
De Libero.
Next are citations of
De Libero
of varying significance which have come to my attention. Mentioned also are books that make significant contributions to the topic of Truth but that have not cited
De Libero.
In addition to the brief bibliography on this page, an extensive bibliography which includes a simple rating system for thousands of documents dealing with the Nature of Truth, is available here:
Extensive Bibliography
Aurelius Augustine (354-430 A.D.)
On Free Choice of the Will - De Libero Arbitrio*
*[Not to be confused with another book named
On Grace & Free Will; De Gratia et Libero Arbitrio.]
Published English translations of De Libero are listed here in chronological order:
On Free Will
-
(Book II only)
McKeon, Richard;
Selections from Medieval Philosophers; Charles Scribner’s Sons; 1929
This two-volume set contains the first known English translation of part of
De Libero. The editor has compiled text beginning with
Augustine in the fourth century and ending with William of Ockham in the
14th century. Most of the texts deal with the nature
of truth. Brief valuable introductions to each writer are followed by summaries of their work.
The Free Choice of the Will
Tourscher, Francis E.; The Peter Reilly Co.; 1937
This is the earliest known complete translation in English of
De Libero. It contains the Latin text and English translation in parallel on facing pages. An
unusual topical index at the end is far too brief. The very few notes do not contribute to the nature of truth discussion.
Saint Augustine on Free Will
Sparrow, Carroll Mason; Univ. of Virginia Studies,
Vol. Four; 1947
This translation was based upon an incomplete Latin original. The book was published posthumously and missing sections were
added by the editor. The table of contents displays chapter summaries. This version offers no interpretive comments, an index, nor a bibliography.
On Free Will
Burleigh, John H. S.; Library of Christian Classics, Vol. Six; 1953
Contains eight of Augustine’s books. Each book is preceded
by Augustine’s review from his own Retractations. It is followed by an introduction and analysis or summary by the translator, whose comments on
Augustine’s exposition of Truth are not significant. It has a brief Bibliography and a useful index.
The Problem of Free Choice
Pontifex, Dom Mark; Ancient Christian Writers, Vol.
22; 1955
Contains the most extensive and valuable comments and notes with references and an index. Augustine’s Retractations review is in the Appendix. The translator has not seen the significance of “Truth is God.”
On Free Choice of the Will
Benjamin, Anna S. & Hackstaff, L. H.; The Bobbs-Merrill Co.; LCCCN 63-16932; 1964
This volume contains three books by Augustine. Each book is preceded by a brief introduction and bibliography. The translator’s introductory comments on Augustine’s exposition of Truth are not significant. A combined brief index of all three books is at the end.
The Free Choice of the Will
Robert P.; The Fathers of the Church, Vol. 59; CUA Press; 1968
Contains the translator’s introductory notes, a short
bibliography, followed at the end by a brief index. The appendix has the
Retractations review. The translator has not seen the significance
of “Truth is God.”
On Free Choice of the Will
Williams, Thomas; Hackett; ISBN 0-87220-188-0; 1993
Translator’s introductory comments on Augustine’s
exposition of Truth are not significant. The Retractations (Reconsiderations) review is at the end. It has is no index.
On the Free Choice of the Will, On Grace and Free Choice, and Other Writings
King,
Peter; Cambridge; ISBN 978-0-521-00129-8;
2010
This volume contains parts or complete text of six books
by Augustine. It is a freer translation that loses some impact in
important places. The Retractations review is included. Marginal
line designations are very helpful. The translator’s introductory notes
are valuable but do not address the topic of Truth. It has an extensive
index.
The Latin text of Augustine’s book is available
here.
The phrase Veritas Deus est [= Truth is God] is on page 64, [2.15.39.153.]
A few writers have commented on St. Augustine’s exposition of Truth.
They are as follows, in chronological order:
1- Aurelius Augustine (354-430 A.D.) The first person to comment on
De Libero is Augustine
himself. Near the end of his life, around 427, he wrote a fascinating and ground-breaking book called
The Retractations.
In it, Augustine comments upon and reviews 93 of his own books, some of which
are no longer extant. In chapter 8, he discusses certain issues covered
in
De Libero. Unfortunately, he does not mention the nature of Truth.
The Retractations; M. Inez Bogan, trans.; CUA; 1999; ISBN 0-8132-0970-6.
2- Anselm of Canterbury (1033-1109) refers to Augustine in his
Concerning Truth; Jasper Hopkins, ed.;
1080/1967; LCCCN 67-10679; and
endorses the idea that truth is eternal, but quickly falls into error by an
uncritical acceptance of Aristotle’s theory of truth. The rest of the book is a
record of his attempt to extricate himself from an impossible situation. He has
not understood the import of Augustine’s exposition of Truth, and begins with an
unquestioning assumption that there is truth in “things.” His
Proslogium
and
Monologium
do not contribute to the nature of Truth discussion.
3- Robert Grosseteste (1175-1235)
On Truth; found in
Selections from
Medieval Philosophers;
Richard McKeon, ed.;
1220/1929; p263ff. Grosseteste was familiar with Augustine’s works and asked many right questions, but his answers show that he
was an empiricist at heart. For an in depth critique of Grosseteste’s work, see this page.
The philosophy of several writers of the Scholastic Era
are examined in four informative volumes written by Steven P. Marrone:
The Light of Thy Countenance. Science and Knowledge of God
in the Thirteenth Century; 2 Vols. Brill, 2001; ISBN 9-00411-947-7.
Vol. 1. A Doctrine of Divine Illumination;
deals with the ideas of Robert Grosseteste, William of Auvergne, Bonaventure, Gilbert of Tournai, John Pecham, Matthew of Aquasparta.
Vol. 2. God at the Core of
Cognition; examines the epistemologies of Henry
of Ghent, Vital du Four, William of Ware & John Duns Scotus.
Two earlier works by Steven P. Marrone are:
William of Auvergne and Robert Grosseteste:
New Ideas of Truth in the Early Thirteenth Century;
Princeton, 1983; ISBN 0-691-05383-9 and
Truth and Scientific Knowledge in the Thought of Henry of Ghent. Medieval Academy of America, 1985. ISBN 0-910956-91-X.
Unfortunately the idea that Truth and God are identical, i.e.
Truth Is God, is not addressed by these scholars or
their expositor. They do not attempt to define the word “truth,” and build their
epistemology on mathematical “truth” or on the alleged reliability of our
senses.
4- Saint Bonaventure (1221-1274)
Disputed Questions on the Knowledge of Christ;
Zachary Hayes; Intro.; trans.; notes.; Franciscan Institute Publications;
1254/1992; ISBN 1-57659-046-1; Volume IV of the Bonaventure Texts in Translation Series.
Seven questions, dealt with in a Positive and Negative Argument format popular
in the scholastic period, on the nature of knowledge both of God and man.
Although Bonaventure references St. Augustine dozens of times, of special
interest for alethiology is Question IV. Here
De Libero is often cited with deep insight into the nature of Truth.
[5-12-2014]
5- St. Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274)
Truth; Robert W.
Mulligan, trans.; Hackett Publishing Co.; 1256/1994; ISBN 0-87220-267-4;
The text of all three volumes is available online.
The most
extensive treatment of the subject by a Christian author. He
could not free himself from the idea that geometric and mathematical
propositions were eternally true. Aquinas references St. Augustine with
respect to the nature of Truth more than any other author listed. It is
must reading to begin to understand the intricacies of the nature of
Truth. Question 1 with its 12 Articles is available
here.
6- Nicholas Malebranche (1638-1715)
The Search After Truth;
Thomas Lennon, trans.; 1674/1997; ISBN 0-521-58995-9. Quotes
Augustine’s exposition verbatim (p233), but rejects it out of hand. He
believed “Truth is God” contradicted his belief that truth was evident
in mathematics and science. Unlike many other writers, Malebranche seems
to have grasped the implications of the proposition.
7- Gordon H. Clark (1902-1985)
A Christian View of Men and Things;
Eerdmans; 1952/1981; ISBN 0-8010-2466-8; (p318-321) The first modern rendition
of Augustine’s exposition, but is left incomplete and un-interpreted. Dr. Clark
gives only the highlights of St. Augustine’s elucidation, and evades the crucial
conclusion that “Truth is God.” He credits St. Augustine only in passing and
does not mention
De Libero
at all.
Five years later, in
Thales to Dewey;
Trinity; 1957/1985; (p218-228); Dr. Clark mentions Malebranche, Augustine and
De Libero, and cites Augustine’s conclusion
that “Truth is God;” but sensing its controversial nature, Clark does not follow
through.
The closest that Dr. Clark comes to giving an unambiguous reference to St.
Augustine’s
De Libero, is on page 537 of
Thales to Dewey. There Dr. Clark references
De Libero in Whitney J. Oates’
Basic Writings of Saint Augustine.
This two-volume set of Augustine’s major works was published in 1948, four years before the publication of
A Christian View of Men and Things.
But Dr. Clark’s reference is misleading because Oates’ book does not contain the complete text of
De Libero.
In the Appendix of volume one, Oates gives what he calls an “Analysis” of
De Libero, a much condensed, chapter by chapter summary of
Tourscher’s 1937 translation of
De Libero. Oates does not quote the “truth is God” of
De Libero’s Book II, Chapter 13, but does cite the phrase “truth itself is God” in the summary of Chapter 15.
8- Gilbert B. Weaver
The Concept of Truth in the Apologetic Systems of Gordon Haddon Clark
and Cornelius Van Til; 1967; tren.com/e-docs; A doctoral thesis presented at
Grace Theological Seminary. A brief analysis of Gordon Clark’s
exposition of Augustine’s nature of truth in the context of the Clark-
van Til controversy. The writer incorrectly ascribes the “Truth is God”
conclusion in
Thales to Dewey to
A Christian View of Men and Things (p81). The author does not bring new insight into the
nature of Truth.
9- Ignace de la Potterie (1914-2003)
La vérité dans Saint Jean. I: Le Christ et la vérité.
L’Esprit et la vérité; II: Le croyant et la vérité; 1977. A thorough exposition of the concept of Truth in the
Gospel of John. His approach is primarily theological rather than philosophical.
Many valuable citations of extra-Biblical works. Refers to
De Libero but does not comment on Augustine’s exposition. Available in French only.
10- Arthur F. Holmes (1924-2011)
All Truth is God’s Truth; Eerdmans; 1977; Cites Book II of
De Libero
in passing (Ch. 3), but it’s obvious that Augustine’s explication has not made
an impression upon the author. He modifies the word Truth with such a varied
number of terms that it becomes evident that he does not have a clear definition
in mind. His assumption that Truth can be discovered, and his confusion of
revelation with humanly acquired information inevitably leads the author’s
hypothesis to self-destruct. A critique of the unjustified presumptions on which
this book is based and which is evident in its title can be seen on the page
titled
The Nature of Truth > Truth is Not.
11- Ronald Nash (1936-2006)
Faith and Reason;
Academie Books; 1988; ISBN 0-310-29400-2. An updated and expanded
analysis of Gordon Clark’s rendition of Augustine’s exposition;
(p161-167). It is evident that Dr. Nash has not understood the
implications of this description and distorts it at the end by
substituting the innocuous “God is Truth” for the sobering “Truth is
God.” He then tries to “improve” on Augustine/Clark by introducing the
unoriginal and repulsive notion that Truth is what God “believes” to be
true. This shows that Dr. Nash’s epistemology has serious deficiencies
and that he was unable to free himself from empiricism.
Dr. Nash incorrectly cites Dr. Clark’s
A Christian View of Men and Things as his source for the six points of the nature of Truth.
This is a misleading error because the crucial conclusion that “Truth is
God” is not given in any of the five editions of
A Christian View of Men and Things.
Dr. Nash does mention that the original is found in Augustine’s
De Libero, but does not cite Clark’s
Thales to Dewey, the only place where
Clark actually presents Augustine’s compelling and pivotal conclusion
that “Truth is God.”
A precursor to
Faith and Reason is his
The Light of the Mind; (University
Press of Kentucky, 1969; ISBN 08131-1175-7); which seems to have Dr.
Nash’s earliest mention of Augustine’s “truth is God” conclusion,
(pp22-23). His attempt to compare Augustine’s concepts with Platonic
Forms, and his unquestioning assumption that there are eternal truths in
mathematics and geometry, entices him away from realizing the gravity of
St. Augustine’s conclusion.
St. Augustine’s ‘argument from truth for
the existence of God’ that appeared in
Faith and Reason is repeated verbatim (pp296-98) in Dr. Nash’s
Life’s
Ultimate Questions; Zondervan; 1999;
without added commentary.
In The Word of God and the Mind of Man; Zondervan; 1982; Dr. Nash cites
De Libero but not with respect to the nature of truth.
More on Dr. Nash’s ideas can be found
here.
Ironically, the Christian faith of many authors has been the cause for the
unjustified optimism in the ability of men to discover Truth, a clearly
impossible act.
Every writer mentioned above was influenced by
Augustine’s incorrect assumptions about truth in mathematics and geometry.
This grave but understandable error has misled philosophers down to the present
day, and has prevented them from arriving at the correct definition of Truth.
Yet they could not and did not withhold judgment on such an important issue.
They needed to take hold of any theory of truth that seemed plausible. In most
cases, that has been the Correspondence theory. This error continues to
propagate unbiblical definitions of Truth.
In addition, since the
discussion on the nature of truth arises while Augustine is trying to “prove”
that God exists, most commentators have been unable to see the forest for the
trees. They have seen the discussion on truth solely in that context, but have not seen that a valid definition for Truth has been so ably presented.
Other texts where Augustine and his thoughts on truth are
mentioned, but which do not contribute to the discussion in a substantial manner:
» The article on Truth in Augustine Through the Ages;
A. Fitzgerald; Eerdmans; 1999; is worthwhile reading. This book is an invaluable resource on all things Augustinian. ISBN 080283843X
» A small portion of
Augustine’s Book II is given without comment in Faith and Reason;
Paul Helm, ed.; Oxford Readers; 1999. ISBN 0199256632
» Elders, Leo J.
mentions Augustine and truth on p. 246 of his The Philosophical Theology of St. Thomas
Aquinas; Brill; 1990; but does not
pursue the issue. ISBN: 90-04-09156-4
» Boyer, Charles; L’idée de vérité dans la philosophie de
Saint Augustin; Beauchesne Et Ses
Fils; Paris; 1920.
A disappointing lack of insight into such an important subject. The
author has not understood the nature of Truth.
» Portalié, Eugene; (1852-1909); A Guide to the Thought of Saint Augustine;
Ralph J. Bastian, trans.; 1902/1960. Greenwood Press; 1975; ISBN
0-8371-7992-0. Contains detailed analysis of Augustine’s theology.
Unfortunately the concept of truth is touched upon very briefly.
» Roberts, David E.; Augustine's Earliest Writings;
The Journal of Religion; vXXXIII; n3; July 1953; p161. A summary of De Libero
mentions St. Augustine’s pivotal conclusion on truth, but does not discuss it.
»
Gilson, Etienne
(1884-1978);
History of Christian Philosophy in the Middle Ages; Random House; 1955 LCCCN
54-7802. A brief over-view of St. Augustine's concept of truth is given beginning on page 74.
De Libero
is listed as a reference.
The Christian Philosophy of Saint Augustine; Random House;
1929/1960; LCCCN 60-12121. This book is a topical compendium of
Augustine’s theology. Although the author does not seem aware of the
Nature of Truth problem, the difference between “Truth” and “truth”
is cited as necessary in dealing with Augustine’s uses of the word. The
author’s brief comments and extensive quotes of the Latin original take
up a third of the book. Many references and an index are also included.
»
D’Arcy, M. C. et al;
A Monument to Saint Augustine,
Sheed & Ward; 1945. The writers of this collection of articles are under
the incorrect impression that eternal truth can be found in mathematics. One
can notice a hint of insight when they refer to “Truth” as something higher
than “truth,” but their lack of knowledge of the nature of numbers and
science puts them at a disadvantage.
»
Oates, Whitney J.; Basic Writings of Saint Augustine,
Random House; 1948. This two-volume set contains most of Augustine’s
important works. The Appendix of Volume One contains An Analysis of the
Treatise On Free Will, a chapter by chapter condensed summary of De Libero.
It is based upon Tourscher’s 1937 translation, the only complete English
translation that was available at that time.
»Markus, Robert A.; Augustine; chapter
5 of A Critical History of Western Philosophy;
D. J. O’Connor; ed.; The Free Press; 1964; is a critical analysis of
Augustine’s important philosophical insights.
De Libero is cited but the nature of
truth is touched upon only lightly.
»
Bourke, Vernon J.; The Essential Augustine;
Hackett; 1964/1974. Each of the ten chapters of this book deals with an
important topic, and several sub-topics. Chapters begin with the editor’s
introduction followed by excerpts from several of Augustine’s books. The
truth relevant passages from
De Libero are cited but not discussed in depth.
»
Mourant, John A.; The Augustinian Argument for the Existence
of God; chapter 9 of Inquiries into Medieval Philosophy;
James F. Ross; ed. Greenwood Publ.; 1971; discusses Augustine’s concepts of
the existence and knowledge of God, but does not delve into the nature of
truth.
» Geisler, Norman & Corduan, Winfried; Philosophy of Religion;
Baker; 1988; has a one page summary (p.154) of what the authors see as
Augustine’s argument for the existence of God from Truth. “Truth” and
“truth” are linked, but there is no analysis of this important concept.
»
Forrester, John; Lying on the Couch,
in the concluding chapter of Dismantling Truth;
Lawson & Appignanesi; eds. 1989; states “Augustine’s attack on the doctrine
that [it was permitted to tell lies for the sake of a holy end] indicates
how truth for him was conceived as identical with the eternal nature of God,
indeed that God and truth were the same thing.”
» Byl, John; Theism and Mathematical Realism;
Journal of the ACMS; 2001; references the above book by Geisler, and
clarifies the conclusion that Truth is God, but interprets that as meaning
that mathematics exists in the mind of God, a completely unjustified and
unorthodox conclusion.
» Stead, Christopher; Philosophy in Christian Antiquity,
Cambridge U; 1994; p118-119; The most original and complete demonstration
[of the existence of God] is also to be found in the De Libero Arbitrio,
2.3.7-15.39. Augustine makes his interlocutor admit that he himself exists,
which indicates that he has being, life and intelligence. Next comes an
argument designed to show that intelligence is the best of human attributes.
It is then suggested that there is something higher than human intelligence,
indeed higher than everything else (2.6.14), a description appropriate only
to the eternal and unchangeable God. To prove this case, Augustine argues
that human intelligence depends upon a reality which is higher than itself
(12.34), namely absolute truth, which must be identified with God, the
source of all happiness (13.35) as well as intellectual satisfaction.
» Wippel, J. F.; Wolter, A. B.; Medieval Philosophy; 1969; pp63-81; On the Existence of God;
Chapters 3-15 of De Libero; translated by A. B. Wolter. No comments on the text are given.
The following substantial collections do not mention or refer to Augustine’s exposition of Truth.
» The fifteen volumes of
The Works of Aurelius Augustinus
: A New Translation, edited by Marcus Dods and published between 1871-1876 do not contain
De Libero
.
»
The Ante-Nicene, Nicene and Post Nicene Fathers
collection of writings by the Church Fathers, edited by Alexander Roberts and James Donaldson, and published in the US in 1885, does not contain Augustine’s
De Libero
.
Both of the above collections of Augustine’s major works are available online.
»
Volume 3, Syntopicon II, of the The Great Books
series first published by
Encyclopedia Britannica in 1952, contains the second most extensive references on the subject of Truth in one location, but Augustine’s book is cited only as Additional Reading.
» Curry, George;
What Is ‘Truth’?
A 1997 article in The Churchman, compares various ‘definitions’ of Truth given by influential philosophers beginning with Aristotle. The author has
been unable to see past the correspondence theory of truth and does not reference Augustine’s
De Libero
.
» Marshall, Bruce D.;
Trinity and Truth
,
Cambridge U; 2002. This work is a valuable contribution to the study of the concept of Truth as it relates to Christ, although surprisingly, Augustine’s
De Libero
is not cited at all. The author’s concern to ascribe truth to Christ’s
Resurrection and the Doctrine of the Trinity rather than the more foundational doctrine of Christ’s Deity, has caused the author to miss the
mark. Lacking a clear definition of Truth, the author incorrectly assumes that a Tarskian Correspondence is the answer. Sadly his epistemology leads
him to conclude that even demons have true beliefs about Christ, a Biblically untenable doctrine.
