Augustine's Political Idealism

ABSTRACT This article challenges Reinhold Niebuhr's depiction of Augustine as a political realist. Although Augustine was a realist concerning the forces that shape political life, he was an idealist in his social ethics. He considered the Sermon on the Mount relevant for political action, and he thought the same principles should govern Christians in both private and public life. To defend this interpretation, I analyze Augustine's treatments of war, capital punishment, and torture. I then contrast his ethics with two kingdoms theology and the theory of dirty hands. A final section analyzes his understanding of role‐specific responsibilities. As I argue, Augustine does not offer a general approbation of harsh practices; he endorses benevolent severity, according to which external harshness can express internal love.