“世界学术经典（英文版）”系列·上帝之城（上、下卷）（导读注释版）

 1.The first question I would like to ask is: Why is not Empire itself one of those gods? Surely it should be, if Victory is a goddess? Why should Jupiter himself be needed in this matter，if Victory is favourable and propitious, and always comes to those whom she wishes to be conquerors? Given her favour and sympathy, what nations would have remained unconquered, even though Jupiter had taken a holiday, or had been otherwise employed? Surely, all kingdoms would have submitted? But perhaps honest men did not like to make war with a lack of equity too unconsiderable and to enlarge their dominions by aggression against peaceful neighbours who did them no wrong? If such was their feeling,I certainly approve and applaud them.                                                                                                      2. As far as I can see, the distinction between victors and vanquished has not the slightest importance for security, for moral standards, or even for human dignity. It is merely a matter of the arrogance of human glory, the coin in which these men 'receive their reward', who were on fire with unlimited lust for glory, and waged their wars of burning fury. Is it the case that the conqueror's lands are exempt from taxes? Have the victors access to knowledge forbidden to the others? Are there not many senators in other lands, who do not know Rome even by sight? Take away national complacency, and what are all men but simply men? If the perverse standards of the world would allow men to receive honours proportional to their deserts, even so the honour of men should not be accounted an important matter; smoke has no weight.                     3.I am going to discuss the creation of man; for it will be apparent that the two cities took their origin from that creation, as far as they are concerned with beings who are both rational and mortal. But, as I showed in my last book, the beginning of the two cities had already been seen in the angels; and so I see that I must say something about them first. I hope to demonstrate, if I can, that there is no absurdity or incongruity in asserting a fellowship between men and angels. So that there is no need to suppose four cities, or communities, one consisting of the good, angels as well as men, and the other of the evil. The contrasted aims of the good and the evil angels did not arise from any difference in nature or origin. It would be utterly wrong to have any doubt about that, since God created both, and he is good in his creation and fashioning of all substances. We must believe that the difference had its origin in their wills and desires, the one sort persisting resolutely in that Good which is common to all-- which for them is God himself-- and in his eternity, truth, and love, while the others were delighted rather with their own power, as though they themselves were their own Good. 

奥古斯丁是古罗马帝国时期的天主教思想家，在中世纪早期被尊为基督教神学大师。他出生于北非，原为摩尼教徒，但在接触了新柏拉图主义思想后渐渐向基督教思想靠拢，直到皈依天主教，最后担任北非希波的主教。他一生著述众多，主要著作有《论自由意志》《忏悔录》《论三位一体》及《上帝之城》。

《上帝之城》是奥古斯丁花费整整十四年心血完成的经典巨作，被誉为神学百科全书。全书共22卷，分成两大部。第一部由第1-10卷构成，内容主要批判罗马人对他们信奉的诸神的崇拜，同时对反对基督教的两种论点进行辩驳。奥古斯丁在前五卷里反驳了罗马的沦陷是因为国家转信基督教而导致的观点，后五卷反驳了人世间的灾难需要通过敬拜神祇才能消除的说法。第二部由第11-22卷组成，内容主要是论述“上帝之城”和“尘世之城”不同的起源、发展和结局。奥古斯丁认为人类历史就是这两城作殊死战斗的纪录，双方互有胜负，但最后上帝将在此战争中获胜，而衷心信仰上帝的基督徒若能忍受充斥邪恶的俗世，则将得到福报，可以享受永久的安宁。

导读

Abbreviation Used in References   

VOLUME ONE 

Book I

Book II

Book III

Book IV

Book V

Book VI

Book VII

Book VIII

Book IX

Book X

VOLUME TWO

Book XI

Book XII

Book XIII

Book XIV

Book XV

Book XVI

Book XVII

Book XVIII

Book XIX

Book XX

Book XXI

Book XXII                                                           

术语汇编与简释