At Cassiciacum, the group engaged in daily philosophical discussions. Augustine’s stenographers recorded these conversations, which were later edited into the Cassiciacum Dialogues . On the Happy Life is one of the earliest and most vital of these works. Written as a birthday celebration for himself, the dialogue takes place over three days and features Augustine, his mother Monica, his son Adeodatus, his brother Navigius, and several close friends. Summary of the Dialogue’s Structure
To fully appreciate On the Happy Life , one must understand where Augustine was in his life when he wrote it. The Turning Point augustine on the happy life pdf
In 386 AD, Augustine was 32 years old. Externally, he was a success: a renowned rhetoric professor in Milan, a brilliant intellectual, and a follower of Manichaeism (a dualistic religion). Internally, he was wrecked. He was torn between his ambition for a prestigious career, his lust for sensual pleasures, and a growing conviction that only God could satisfy him. At Cassiciacum, the group engaged in daily philosophical