A Commonwealth of Hope - by Michael Lamb

About the Book

"Augustine of Hippo is one of the most influential thinkers in the history of political thought but whose writings are among the most contested in contemporary political theory. Many critics target Augustine's pessimism, arguing that his fixation on sin and longing for the heavenly city deny the value of this-worldly politics. Rather than challenging this pessimism, many defenders parlay it for their own purposes, invoking Augustine to chasten political optimism or encourage religious citizens to withdraw from the public square. Situating Augustine within his political, rhetorical, and religious contexts and integrating insights from political theory, religious studies, theology, and philosophy, Michael Lamb aims to paint a different picture of Augustine's political thought. In particular, Lamb draws on the full range of Augustine's writings, including neglected treatises, sermons, and letters, to retrieve Augustine's idea of hope as a civic virtue, one which is neither optimistic or pessimistic. By illuminating this understudied virtue and engaging critics on their own terms, Lamb challenges prevailing interpretations of Augustinian pessimism while supplying a novel and capacious vision of Augustine's political thought"--

Book Synopsis

A bold new interpretation of Augustine's virtue of hope and its place in political life

When it comes to politics, Augustine of Hippo is renowned as one of history's great pessimists, with his sights set firmly on the heavenly city rather than the public square. Many have enlisted him to chasten political hopes, highlighting the realities of evil and encouraging citizens instead to cast their hopes on heaven. A Commonwealth of Hope challenges prevailing interpretations of Augustinian pessimism, offering a new vision of his political thought that can also help today's citizens sustain hope in the face of despair.

Amid rising inequality, injustice, and political division, many citizens wonder what to hope for in politics and whether it is possible to forge common hopes in a deeply polarized society. Michael Lamb takes up this challenge, offering the first in-depth analysis of Augustine's virtue of hope and its profound implications for political life. He draws on a wide range of Augustine's writings--including neglected sermons, letters, and treatises--and integrates insights from political theory, religious studies, theology, and philosophy. Lamb shows how diverse citizens, both religious and secular, can unite around common hopes for the commonwealth.

Recovering this understudied virtue and situating Augustine within his political, rhetorical, and religious contexts, A Commonwealth of Hope reveals how Augustine's virtue of hope can help us resist the politics of presumption and despair and confront the challenges of our time.

Review Quotes

"A fascinating revisionist view of the political thought of St. Augustine. Contrary to a popular perception of Augustine as an otherworldly thinker who accents 'darkness and pessimism, ' Lamb sketches a persuasive portrait of a thinker who 'encourages a realistic hope for a better form of community not only in heaven but on earth.'"---E. J. Dionne, Washington Post

"Lamb raises Augustine as a model of political and civic engagement who offers an example and a theory of hope that may guard contemporary citizens against presumption and despair. . . . A Commonwealth of Hope is ambitious, wide reaching, and impressive. The treatment of the virtues of faith, hope, and love is excellent. He explains why we need hope -- theologically, spiritually, morally, socially, and politically -- and how to practice and model hope for others."---Benjamin Parviz, Logia

"Persuasive. . . . [A Commonwealth of Hope] is a valuable book which sifts and synthesises the work of recent scholars, not least Robert Dodaro, Eric Gregory, Veronica Roberts Ogle, and Jennifer Herdt, in order to challenge successfully an older consensus."---Richard Finn, New Blackfriars

"[A Commonwealth of Hope] is a book for all because the author's analysis of Augustine sheds light on our contemporary human experience of hope. . . . and [it] deserves its rightful place in Augustinian studies, church history and political science."---Isaac Augustine Vasumu, Augustiniana

"[C]ompelling and intriguing . . . [A Commonwealth of Hope] is a must-read for anyone interested in Augustine of Hippo."--"---Kristoff Reese Grosfeld, Political Theology

"With A Commonwealth of Hope, Michael Lamb has provided what I take to be a faithful and powerful reading of Augustine that should become indispensable, if not normative, for future uses of the bishop of Hippo within political theory. . . . I whole-heartedly recommend this book to any scholar of Augustine, be they interested in the explicitly political aspects or not."---Adam Ployd, Augustinian Studies

"Erudite and compelling. . . . A Commonwealth of Hope is a beautifully written, carefully argued, and illuminating reexamination of Augustine's political thought that presents a richer picture of Augustine's political thought."---Matthew H. Young, Religious Studies Review

"Michael Lamb offers a compelling and timely defense of the virtue of hope, presenting Augustine as a significant resource for those who seek to foster political community today . . . [and] a major contribution to the work of rehabilitating Augustine as a vital interlocutor for those seeking to promote good citizenship."---Veronica Roberts Ogle, Perspectives on Politics

"A new and innovative interpretation of Augustine's political thought that supports political engagement with the expectation of improvements in this world."-- "Choice"

"[Lamb] enters a thoroughly overcrowded senior common room, but he does so with panache in this his first major book. He writes clearly and demonstrates an impressive knowledge of primary and secondary sources. . . . Any thoughtful Christian who engages with secular colleagues in the public domain today might learn from this new book."---Canon Robin Gill, Church Times

"Excellent."---Frank Litton, The Irish Catholic

"Michael Lamb's A Commonwealth of Hope: Augustine's Political Thought is an important intervention not only in Augustine studies, but also in our politics of stagnation and hopelessness."---Terence Sweeney, Public Discourse

"[Lamb] introduces his readers to another Augustine. This Augustine was not a pessimist but a champion of hope. He encouraged his hearers to hope for the well-being of the city. And he possessed an expansive vision of Christians and non-Christians working together to improve their lives on earth."---Aaron Alexander Zubia, Wall Street Journal

About the Author

Michael Lamb is the F. M. Kirby Foundation Chair of Leadership and Character, associate professor of interdisciplinary humanities, and executive director of the Program for Leadership and Character at Wake Forest University. He is also a research fellow with the Oxford Character Project. Twitter @KMLamb