Chapter 5, Part 2 - Chapters 11, 12, 13 Summary and Analysis

When Augustine retires to Cassiciacum he has grown accustomed to living as a philosopher within Christianity. He has also left his wife, the heiress, which caused a reduction in the degree of wealth in which he lived. Plato, Plotinus, Porphyry and Ambrose are his great influences, but so too has been his mother Monica.

Chapter 11: Pagans and Christians intermingling in society and in the religious practices is a quality of the time and location. Augustine's retirement leads to a permanent separation from his wealthy wife, in addition to having left public office and being one of Milan's professors. Here, Augustine dwells with a small, and somewhat peculiar assemblage of students. From his work with these people he finds his inspiration for important philosophical writings and publications. Brown emphasizes that Augustine was an amateur philosopher. At...