Chapter 2: Augustine: Idealism through a Christian Lens
Question 1: Albert Bandura’s theory of social cognitive learning places great significance on
role models in learning. What positive and negative role models influenced Augustine? How did
he later in life serve as a mentor and role model for others?
Saint Augustine of Hippo was born in modern-day Algeria in 354 A.D. in Tagaste to
Patricius and Monica (Smith, 2020). His father was a pagan who was unfaithful to Augustine’s
mother and was a “distant and abrasive father” (Smith, 2020, p. 10). Augustine’s mother was a
Christian and would play a vital role in his conversion to Christianity (Smith, 2020). Augustine
had many role models throughout his life that positively and negatively affected his worldview.
As a young boy growing up in Tagaste, Augustine struggled at school. He did not excel in
arithmetic and was often beaten by his teacher (Smith, 2020). However, Augustine performed
well in verbal skills, which included spelling, grammar, and vocabulary (Smith, 2020). These
skills would prove useful later in life for Augustine as an orator. In contrast to Augustine’s
boyhood teacher, Bishop Ambrose became a positive mentor in Augustine’s life. Augustine met
Bishop Ambrose after his mother encouraged him to listen to Ambrose speak at the Basilica in
Milan, where Augustine now resided (Smith, 2020). Augustine later stated that “God had led him
to Ambrose so that Ambrose might lead him to God” (Smith, 2020, p.11).
Like Bishop Ambrose, Augustine was mentored by Simplicianus, a presbyter of Ambrose
(Smith, 2020). This relationship led Augustine to learn more about Christianity. Simplicianus
taught Augustine theology and told him about Marius Victorinus, a teacher of Rhetoric who
resided in Rome and converted from Neoplatonism to Christianity (Smith, 2020). Augustine
strove to be like Victorinus (Smith, 2020). Another mentor that had a positive impact on
Augustine’s life was Ponticianus. Ponticianus was a Christian layman that told Augustine and his
friend Alypius about the monastic life of Saint Antony of Egypt and shared readings from a book
of Saint Paul’s letters. The time Augustine and Alypius spent with Ponticianus led to their
conversion to Christianity (Smith, 2020).
Augustine eventually left Italy and returned to Northern Africa, where he met Bishop
Valerius of Hippo. Bishop Valerius convinced Augustine to be ordained as a presbyter and
utilized Augustine’s skill as an orator to preach to people (Smith, 2020). Valerius also understood
the importance of monastic life to Augustine and set aside land for Augustine to use as a garden
(Smith, 2020). The monastery garden developed into a learning community of men from various
socioeconomic and geographic backgrounds (Smith, 2020). Over time, Augustine became the
Bishop of Hippo, establishing a monastery that educated clergy in hermeneutics, apologetics,
theology, liberal arts, and dialogue (Smith, 2020). Augustine, the mentee, had now become the
mentor.
Reference
Smith, S. J. (2020). Windows into the history & philosophy of education. Kendall Hunt
Publishing Company.
