본 논문의 목적은 아우구스티누스의 신경생리학적 감각이해를 살펴봄으로써 아우구스티누스의 과학이해를 재조명해 보는 것이다. 이를 위하여 연구자는 첫째, 과학이론의 성립 가능성에 대한 아우구스티누스의 주장을 그의 신학 체계 속에서 살펴보고, 둘째, 이를 토대로 아우구스티누스의 세계-‘나’ 관계론 속에서의 감각에 대한 신경생리학적 이해를 다루고 셋째, 영과 육의 연계기관으로서의 감각을 고찰해 보며, 마지막으로 위의 것을 토대로 아우구스티누스의 신경생리학적 감각 이해 속에 나타난 과학에 대한 그의 태도를 알아보도록 하겠다. 이를 통하여 우리는 신학과 과학간의 가장 원형적인 관계 모델을 재발견 할 수 있을 것이다.The purpose of this paper is to inquire into Augustine’ theology and science relation through his neuro-physiological understanding of sense. The paper deals with 1) probability of science in Augustine’ theological framework 2) neuro-physiological understanding of sense in his the world-’I’ relation 3) sense in the mind and body relation and finally his identification of science in the understanding of sense.
Augustine addressed the probability of science in the transcendental essence of the nature, form, order, and limit and thought that the science refered to ontological framework of the nature. This standpoint to science was applied to human sense. He was able to show the roles, cognitions, and memory of sense organs through learning neuro-physilogy and experimentation. Further, he examined neuro- physiological mechanism of sense.
This paper refers to three conclusions. First, Augustine’s neuro-physiological understanding of sense shows us that his theology is closely related with natural science such as neuro-physiology. Neuro-physiology which he accepted from prior scientists is synthesized with his theological framework. Modern academic categorization does not make sense to Augustine. Augustine’s neuro-physiological understanding of sense plays the pioneering role in mind-body mechanism.