On the Teacher
by Augustine · De Magistro
Assigned by 2 of the 9 reading lists, catalogue entry only
- Written
- 389
- Language
- Latin
- Length
- Short · 50 ppunder 120 pages
- Difficulty
- Demanding3 of 5 for a first-year reader
We recommendAgainst the Academicians and The Teacher, translated by Peter KingHackett, 1995A careful philosophical translation with notes, paired with the early dialogue on scepticism.
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A dialogue between Augustine and his teenage son Adeodatus, written shortly after their return to Africa. It begins by asking what we do when we speak, and works through the relation of words to the things they signify. The conclusion is that words do not teach anything; they only prompt us to consult the truth already present within, where Christ, the inner teacher, instructs the mind.
No reading guide yet
The catalogue entry above is complete: the dates, the form, the themes and every program that assigns On the Teacher are verified against each program's published list.
What is missing is the part that takes real work: the summary, the key passages, and a recommended translation. The edition named below is the one most programs assign, so the buy links are useful already.
