The Second Sin

This book explores the vice of envy in the thought of Augustine of Hippo. Though much has been written on many aspects of Augustine’s moral theology, his theology of envy remains virtually unexplored. This is surprising not only because of the frequency with which Augustine writes about envy, but also because of the way he links it intrinsically to pride and opposes it uniquely to charity. This study thus fills a significant lacuna in Augustinian scholarship, but also—and in doing so—advances the present conversation in philosophical theology on the virtues and vices. The Second Sin takes an integrated approach to this topic by exploring Augustine’s thought about envy across various genres, temporal periods, and polemical contexts. In particular, the book focuses on envy’s relation to grief, pride, and charity—the three most significant moral contexts in which Augustine reflects on the nature of this wicked vice.