Sara Rice: 4/10/24 Writing reflection- augustine’s confessions (outside text)

While reading Augustine’s confessions, a big theme that occurs is the dichotomy between good and evil. In this circumstance, this has to do with good vs evil being present while also believing in God. However, upon reflecting on this portion I read I began to think about how good is associated with beauty and evil is associated with ugliness. In my opinion, things that are seen as opposite are used to demonstrate an absence of something else. For example, shadows are seen as being evil and bad, but it is the opposite of light, which is supposedly good. However, there is no direct opposite to beauty. Beauty is subjective and it can be found in just about anything. Finding a physical characteristic about something or someone that society collectively sees as “ugly” is nonexistent. There is beauty in everything, and it's important to flip the script so that things can be more than just beautiful or ugly. This strict definition of beauty needs to be changed to incorporate all perspectives of beauty. Relating back to Augustine’s confessions, if God created everything on earth, then there truly is beauty in everything.  

 

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