The Injustice of Idolatry: A Comparative Study of Augustine’s City of God and Vico’s New Science.

Abstract

This study investigates the concept of idolatry in the works of Augustine and Vico, exploring its implications for sociability and morality. By analysing Augustine’s, The City of God and Vico's Universal Right and The New Science, it reveals their respective critiques of idolatry and its influence on their philosophical and theological frameworks. Augustine interprets idolatry as disordered worship rooted in pride and self-love, which corrupts desires and undermines justice. His dualistic perspective emphasizes the mind as the primary means to divine truth, often portraying the body as an obstacle to spiritual fulfilment. In contrast, Vico reinterprets Augustine's critique through a holistic framework that integrates body, mind, and society. He sees idolatry as an early stage of human development, where myths and deities emerge from bodily experiences. Vico's concept of sensus communis highlights how collective rituals and symbolic language shape human understanding, emphasizing the relational and symbolic dimensions of sociability. This study highlights Vico's departure from Augustine’s dualism, presenting a more realistic ethical framework where love of neighbour becomes a relational necessity rather than a step toward divine union. By situating the body as integral to human consciousness and morality, Vico provides a vision of sociability and justice that bridges human experience and divine truth, offering valuable insights for contemporary theology and ethics.