The Greatness of Humility: St. Augustine on Moral Excellence

by Joseph J. McInerney, C.C. Pecknold (Foreword)

The jury is out on the virtue of humility. Most people find humility a more attractive character trait in others than its opposites of pride and arrogance. Yet many philosophers, be they ancient or modern, find little value in humility as a virtue. For the Aristotelian moral tradition, humility is an impediment to greatness. Modern philosophers take this sentiment further, asserting that humility is a sham virtue that leads to unhappiness and human debasement. The Christian intellectual tradition, however, provides a contrast to these negative appraisals of humility. St. Augustine of Hippo is an eloquent and robust proponent of humility's value. Unlike the thinkers of the classical and modern philosophic traditions, Augustine asserts that humility is not only a significant virtue; it is the indispensable foundation of human greatness. The Greatness of Humility traces how Augustine makes his argument regarding the importance of humility and shows how his position measures up to those of his philosophical rivals.

214 pages, Paperback

Published February 15, 2016

Reviews

[David Huff · Rating 4 out of 5]

I know, I know …. The very title of this book may seem like an oxymoron, but don’t let that deter you from both enjoying and benefitting from the great case, for the value of humility, that is presented within.

“For Augustine”, writes author Joseph McInerney, “only the humble person can truly achieve greatness”. McInerney then proceeds, for the next 189 pages, to set forth an extremely well-organized and logical (back to those points in a minute) discussion of how several well-known thinkers have viewed, over the centuries, the idea and meaning of humility. These persons of influence include Aristotle, Cicero, Plotinus, David Hume, and Friedrich Nietzsche --- all of whose views are compared and contrasted with the God-centered views of Augustine. Hume and Nietzsche, in particular, held views dramatically opposed to those of Augustine.

Because Augustine’s Biblically influenced concept of humility and greatness (also called moral excellence) stands alone among the other historical figures just mentioned, McInerney devotes three of the six chapters to an expansive discussion of Augustine and his thought. As he notes,
“… despite the important influence of classical philosophy on Augustine’s thought, the preeminent influence on his thinking, especially as it developed and matured, was that of sacred Scripture”.

Just so. And, he adds, “Humility leads to love of God, which leads to knowledge of God. Authentic knowledge of God leads to the awe and gratitude from which humility springs.”

McInerney, a man to be commended for both his career as a Naval Commander, and his earned doctorate in theology, has written a wise and rich book, which covers much theology, history, and philosophy for its small size. I mentioned earlier how organized and logical his writing is – so much so that it reads in some ways like a textbook, though certainly not boring. Still, I would have enjoyed hearing McInerney share some personal applications or illustrations of these truths in his own life, which would’ve made the reading experience a bit more relatable. That said, it’s still a great read and highly recommended!

[Hernan · Rating 4 out of 5]

McInerney’s work is thorough and accurate. His chapter on Greek philosophy situates Augustine well in the classical conversation on greatness and humility. He aptly nuances the often-simplified view of the Stoics and precisely discerns the differences between Augustine and Plotinus, whose views come closest to his. Despite this context, McInerney rightly attributes to Scripture Augustine’s most important influence and demonstrates his hermeneutical methods with copious examples relevant to the topic of humility. McInerney also has a firm grasp on Augustine’s understanding of the pursuit of happiness and the roles that pride and humility play in it. It corresponds to my own reading of Augustine and even supplies it with a better comprehension of grace, virtue, knowledge, and wisdom.

An incredible discovery for me was the relationship between greatness and the imago Dei, which McInerney skilfully tied together. He helpfully explained that man’s desire for greatness is good and not prideful if it primarily stems from a person’s love of God rather than be the object of a person’s love (p. 120). He did not (or Augustine did not), however, make explicit that our greatness is God's greatness in us. I suspect this is how the desire for greatness can be rightly ordered, i.e., if it is a desire for God’s greatness and glory in which man is called to participate and which he may reflect by believing, loving, and enjoying God. Sadly, it sounded at times that McInerney was advocating man’s own greatness, even if a derivative one. As such, McInerney’s evaluation of and attempt to answer the competing views felt at times short and not as radically different as it could be, though this does not detract from his many astute analyses.

Another disappointment—and they are few compared to the many delightful insights—was McInerney’s discussion of divine humility, which he mentions and whose function in promoting humble greatness he properly expounded. Its nature and Trinitarian workings, however, remain as obscure in this book as they are in Augustine’s writings. Perhaps this justifies even more, then, my research on this subject.

Overall, McInerney’s book is a comprehensive and persuasive work on the topic of humility and greatness. It will no doubt serve as a central point of reference in my research.

[Catherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very helpful in forming my thesis on humility. The bibliography was especially helpful in finding sources of Augustine's lesser known works. Also, McInerney constructs a fascinating argument based solely on Augustine's work to form the basis of his argument - how one can't become great without first humbling himself - and doing that requires acknowledging our need for God, and seeking Christ's help (as the only antidote to pride).
Very interesting (and pretty quick read).

[Peter]

Splendid exposition of a necessary aspect of virtue. Good old Augustine