TOPICS OF ARISTOTLE'S PROTREPTICUS IN AUGUSTINE OF HIPPO THE TRANSMISSION OF CICERO AND THE CONTEXT OF THEIR USE

Abstract

St. Augustine's knowledge of Aristotle was precarious and indirect. However, we find in his work traces of topics that seem to come from Aristotle's exoteric works, specifically the Protrepticus. These topics came to St. Augustine's knowledge through Cicero's Hortensius, as scholars already know. However, hitherto there has not been a study that jointly executes the following three tasks: analyze these topics systematically in order to discuss in a critical and updated way their nature and relevance; study what role Cicero played in their transmission; and examine St. Augustine's use of them in relation to the context in which he quotes them. I carry out this triple task in the present article.