The Enchanted City of Man

The State and the Market in Augustinian Perspective

The A. contends that although modernity is thought to be marked by a "secular" or "disenchanted" world-view, an Augustinian reading of political and economic culture suggests a very different account. Seen through an augustinian lens, modern political culture becomes a form of false worship (or feti...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Author:Eugene McCarraher
Published: 2005
Pages:261-295
Language:English
Format:Essay
Topic:- Doctrine > Social Life > [Sociologie. Cité terrestre. Politique] > [Études d'ensemble] > [Politique]
- Doctrine > Social Life > [Sociologie. Cité terrestre. Politique] > [Influence] > Political Augustinianism
- Doctrine > Social Life > [Travail. Economie. Realia] > [Économie]
- Influence and Survival > [Époque Contemporaine (1789-1960)] > Relevance of Augustine > [Politique]
- Influence and Survival > [Le Présent (1960-...)] > News about Augustine > [Politique]
Parent Work: Augustine and politics
Status:Active
Description
Summary:The A. contends that although modernity is thought to be marked by a "secular" or "disenchanted" world-view, an Augustinian reading of political and economic culture suggests a very different account. Seen through an augustinian lens, modern political culture becomes a form of false worship (or fetishism) in which redemptive power is ascribed to the nation-state. Similarly, modern economic culture becomes a fetishism in which salvation depends on the commodity form. Both fetishes comprise the perverse enchantments of the modern earthly city, whose true redemption lies, as Augustine contended, in the political economy of the heavenly city - that is, in the ecclesial and sacramental practices of the Church.

Similar Items