Augustine's Theory of Signs, Signification, and Lying

Remo Gramigna

Published by De Gruyter 2020

Augustine's Theory of Signs, Signification, and Lying

Remo Gramigna

Volume 3 in the series Semiotics of Religion

Volume 60 in the series Religion and Reason

https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110596625

Overview
Contents

About this book

The aim of this study is to present, as far as possible, a general description of the theory of the sign and signification in Augustine of Hippo (354-430 AD), with a view to its evaluation and implications for the study of semiotics. Accurate studies for subject, discipline, and significance have not yet given an organic and systematic vision of Augustine’s theory of the sign. The underlying aspiration is that such an endeavour will prove to be beneficial to the scholars of Augustine’s thought as well as to those with a keen interest in the history of semiotics.

The study uses Augustine’s own accounts to investigate and interpret the philosophical problem of the sign. The focus lies on the first decade of Augustine’s literary production. The De dialectica, is taken as the terminus ad quo of the study, and the De doctrina christiana is the terminus ad quem. The selected texts show an explicit engagement with poignant discussion on the nature and structure of the sign, the variety of signs and their uses. Although Augustine’s intention never was to establish a theory of meaning as an independent field of study, he largely employed a theory of signs. Thus, Augustine’s approach to signs is intrinsically meaningful.

Author / Editor information

Remo Gramigna, University of Tartu, Estonia.

Reviews

"This reviewer found the volume to be a helpful reference tool even beyond the field of
semiotics, as it has several pages of helpful elucidation of the divisions of various works and their
historical background." Charles Kim Jr. in: Theologische Revue 117/2021, https://www.uni-muenster.de/Ejournals/index.php/thrv/article/view/3226/3216 (25.02.2021)

Topics

Frontmatter Publicly Available Download PDF	I
Acknowledgments Publicly Available Download PDF	VII
Contents Publicly Available Download PDF	IX
Abbreviations Publicly Available Download PDF	XIII
List of figures/List of tables Publicly Available Download PDF	XV
Introduction Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	1
1. Words as signs in the De Dialectica Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	17
2. On the conditions and possibilities of knowing: philosophy of semiosis in Augustine’s De magistro Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	40
3. Of ‘things’ and ‘signs’ in Augustine’s De Doctrina christiana Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	98
4. Mala fide communication: deception, misleading, and lying Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	143
5. Image, likeness, and falsity: from Soliloquia to De Trinitate Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	180
Conclusions Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	198
Bibliography Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	213
List of persons Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	227

(Deutsch)

Language: English
Publisher: De Gruyter
Audience: Scholars of philosophy , theology, semiotics, religion, classics and Augustinian studies
Pages
- Front matter: 16
- Main content: 230
Illustrations
- Illustrations: 18
- Tables: 7
Keywords: Augustine of Hippo; theory of signs; semiotics; the lie

eBook

Published: January 20, 2020
ISBN: 9783110596625

Hardcover

Published: January 20, 2020
ISBN: 9783110595772