A memoria em S. Agostinho - Memoria Rerum, Memoria Sui, Memoria Dei

Abstract

St. Augustine's gnoseology is a Christianized version of Plato's ideas, and as the A. of this article shows, the role of memory is key in the complex process of human knowledge. Drawing upon Plato's reminiscence theory, Augustine takes for granted the notion of «pure memory» (memoria sui), whose specific competencies regard in first place the intellective notions. Memory's main and specific object is the «present» (not the «past») as well as the «self» (not «things»). Augustine's (new!) theory of knowledge presents thus memory not as one among other faculties or potencies, but rather as the soul's «subtlest» element, a notion which goes back to Origen, for whom memory is tantamount to the Hellenistic nous. By linking so crucial an anthropological element with the Alexandrine (Origen's) intellectual heritage, Augustine is eventually compelled to identify self-awareness through memory with the notion of «Image of God» from Genesis 1,26-27. In this way, Augustine's vestigia trinitatis theory is extended to the human soul. Ultimately, memory is memoria Dei.