Abstract

St Augustine's The City of God has deeply influenced the development of Westem political thought. As a seminal thinker, Augustine provides important insights conceming the future of the city. However, Augustine's politics cannot be separated from his theology, particularly his teaching on original sin and predestination. Augustine's understanding of teleology or purpose, especially with respect to ethics, and eschatology---the end or consummation of all things--—form an integrated whole. Hence, to assess Augustine's politics, one must first grasp his theology. Notably, Augustine's theology invests history with meaning and provides a basis for the inevitable pluralism as well as cooperation between the citizens from the two cities living in the same world with diametrically opposed loves.