City of God and Ethical Citizenship

Abstract

Set against the decline of the Roman Empire, the thought of Saint Augustine, as expressed in The City of God, presents history as a tension between the divine and the earthly cities, defined by moral purpose as opposed to political or ethnic identity. Knowledge is rooted in self-awareness, while the state is viewed as a necessary but imperfect institution, and true citizenship lies in a dual allegiance to temporal authority and divine order, grounded in moral values such as love, justice, and peace. In dialogue with Stoicism, this vision affirms a universal model of citizenship shaped by ethical commitment.