Book Four of the Confession Synthesis

Jonie V. Robles

In book four of St. Augustine’s "Confessions," he first narrates his experience as a

teacher of rhetoric and his affair with an unnamed woman. In this book, he also shares how he
grieved his friend's loss and found consolation with his other friends. In the latter part, St.
Augustine discusses his thought about the transcendence idea and his work on Beauty , De
Pulchro et Apto. Lastly, he also in part his encounter with Aristotle’s Categories.

In this book, St. Augustine discussed what he has done in the past, which bring him the
experience of being brokenhearted and finding indolence with those people. The same love
moves him to seek the transcendent reality, especially God, and work on “Beauty.” For this
reason, he imparts to me how love can move a man to experience loneliness but also find the
feeling of accompaniment with others, and moves us to realize the good and beautiful idea
associated with God.