기독교 사관의 철학적 이해 : Augustinus의 경우 = A PHILOSOPHICAL INTERPRETATION OF THE CHRISTIAN CONCEPT OF HISTORY

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

One of the difficulties in understanding the western thoughts lies in the problem of the relationship between philosophy and theology. For one and the same problem can be dealt in two different respects, and sometimes even two contradictory assertions are made about the same problem.
The problem concerning the concept of history is one of them. In the west the Christian concept of history has been accepted, in general, even up to a very recent time. Hegel, for instance, represents such a stand-point.
The concept of history in Augustine, which this paper deals with, is one of the most outstanding representations of it. He was a philosophical speculator, as well as a theologian who among others was most deeply concerned with the problem of history. And his influence has lived on for over a thousand years now.
In this paper we have only tried to introduce his thoughts as objectively as possible, without prejudices. Since he belongs to the early Christian schools of thoughts, it does not seem right to criticize him in terms of modern thoughts. And also our age seems to be too rationalistic and positivistic to accept his beliefs and assertions without any criticism.
We have given a general interpretation of Augustine's "De Civitate Dei," and exiplained how his concept of history is true to the christian concept of history represented by St. Paul and others. Furthermore, we have seen that this is the generally accepted concept of history in the christian world of today,
In the latter part of the paper, however, we have attempted to give a philosophical interpretation of Augustine's thoughts, without, of course, intending to negate his basic view-points.
We have pointed out that his concept of history takes the dualistic point of view in regard to the reality, and maintains that history will finally be consummated in the theistic monism through the judgment of history and God. And so the judgment means the completion or perfection of history in him.
Secondly, we have seen that his concept of history is dialectical, and as such it presupposes the final goal, which is God. And his dialectics, of course, is the dialectics of love.
We have also seen that Augustine's concept of history, as much as his concept of time, is characteristic in that it is futuristic, and it takes history to be an unrepeatable, singular process. And thus not only the commitment for a historical act, but also the assertion for the significance of history becomes possible and meaningful.
Hence, all men are called for the participation in history according to Augustine. And not only the problem of choice and commitment, but also that of order, reconstruction, and completion, as well as peace, love and service is to be emphasized. For Augustine believes that the perfection of history is the building of the Kingdom of God, and, therefor, by submitting our freedom to God's will we stand for the history of His Kingdom.