Saint Augustine Aesthetic Thought"Timeliness" Problem

Augustine’s aesthetic can say is theology ontology aesthetic and phenomenology of aesthetics blend. His theory includes " timeliness " which becomes a core of theology aesthetics, as a dimension of the relationship between subject and object in the aesthetic life. Therefore, this paper will be proceed with Augustine’s "timeliness" problems, and combined with Augustine’s theology aesthetic ideas, in order to disscuss Augustine’s aesthetic thought of the "timing" problem. Specific as follows:The first chapter is mainly to comb the previous research results. The content mainly includes two parts:one is the Augustine’s aesthetic thought research status,the other is the question of time research status. Based on this, the author’s research purpose which expects "time" problem in Augustine’s philosophy and theology thought extends to aesthetic field will be lead. This will realizes the cross and integration among disciplines.The second chapter, mainly to expound the Augustine’s time concept. It Specificlly includes two dimensions of Augustine’s time concept. One is god creates time, surpasses time, the other is time is the "extendsion" in individual mind. Through the discussion of the two parts, the author in order to contact "time" and "eternal" together and contact "individual" and "god" together too. The individual must have the "consciousness" which is always filled with god to share god’s "eternal". So,how does the individual to do it? This problem will be solved in the third chapter.The third chapteris the key of this paper. Mainly from the two ways to interpret "time" problem of Augustine’s aesthetic thought. The first one is "aesthetic activities",and the second one is "body of desire". The first quarter mainly explains "aesthetic feeling" strive for the god because they want to occupy "now".It combines the triple now of Augustine’s thought (the past now, now of the current and the future now)and the three stages of ideological work (memory, attention and expect), and take the consciousness "stretching" when we are singing as an example to show that how long "aesthetic feeling "lasts depends on the "focus " in the thought. The "focus" equals to "now" in Augustine’s thought, and it equals "the present" in Husserl thought. Aesthetic present specificlly assumes in Augustine’s life experience which is keen on the music, literature and drama.But "love art more than god" will result the fact that the "consciousness" of "individual" filled with god difficultly.Therefore, the third chapter of the paper aims to show that Augustine’s aesthetic thought claims to stop "aesthetic feeling",and rejects the value of "aesthetic life".The second quarter mainly explains "theology aesthetics rejects the feeling of the body". It starts from "dichotomy of body and soul" in philosophy from Augustine god thought, in order to illuminate Augustine’s attitude to body and soul. That is he admires for the soul, but depreciates the body. In this background, the author switch to analyse much desire of body such as eating, smelling, hearing, looking and sexual desire to and so on. The desire from the feeling of body belongs to the "evil" desire in the individual "free will". These "evil" desire exist in people’s "soul", will destroyed "self unity", and "break" individual "consciousness" believe in god. Therefore, in order to share "spiritual beauty" in the eternal god, Augustine completely abandon and reject the "body".The conclusion not only summarizes the text, but also illuminate the important position of " timeliness" in Augustine’s theology aesthetic. It emphasize Augustine’s creative contributions on the history of theology and aesthetics. That is taking the time into individual "consciousness" on the "stretch".Therefore, Augustine’s aesthetic can say is theology ontology aesthetic and phenomenology of aesthetics blend.