Augustine‟s Contra Fortunatum. Perspectives from Critical Discourse Analysis and Argumentation ...

261 Pages·2014·2 MB·English

Augustine‟s Contra Fortunatum. Perspectives from Critical Discourse Analysis and
Argumentation Theory

Michael James Coombes

Dissertation presented for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy
In the faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at Stellenbosch University

Promoter: Dr Annemaré Kotzé
Department of Ancient Studies

April 2014
Stellenbosch University http://scholar.sun.ac.za

Declaration
By submitting this dissertation electronically, I declare that the entirety of the work
contained therein is my own, original work, that I am the sole author thereof (save to
the extent explicitly otherwise stated), that reproduction and publication thereof by
Stellenbosch University will not infringe any third party rigts and that I have not
previously in its entirety or in part submitted it for obtaining any qualification.

Signed:______________________________
Date:________________________________

Copyright © 2014 Stellenbosch University
All rights reserved

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English Abstract
Augustine of Hippo remains one of the most prominent and influential figures in the
world of Catholicism, famous for his many writings and sermons on Catholic
Christianity as well as his ardent defence of it. His debate with Fortunatus, a member
of the Manichaean faith presented Augustine with one of his defining moments as a
member of the Catholic clergy. This is because Augustine had only been a presbyter
in the Church at Hippo for a few months when this debate took place and therefore
had much at stake against his wily opponent. To make matters even more
complicated for Augustine, he himself had been a Manichee for at least nine years
and knew Fortunatus as a skilled debater. But rhetoric, or the art of persuasion, was
a field in which Augustine excelled, having both a natural proclivity for speaking as
well as the formal education behind it.
Chapter one begins with an introduction to the debate, the primary characters, and
the religions involved. Chapter two continues with an exposition of Augustine and his
association with Manichaeism and then goes on to describe Augustine‟s anti-
Manichaean works. From this point, chapter two continues with a section on
Manichaeism, its spread, its myth and its practice. From this contextual basis,
chapter three deals with the methodology of Critical Discourse Analysis and the
three most important characters in the form of Halliday, Fairclough and van Dijk. This
chapter is followed by another chapter on theory: Argumentation Theory. Chapter
four includes subsections on van Eemeren and his methodologies of Pragma-
Dialectics and Strategic Maneuvering.
The analysis chapters of this dissertation begin with chapter five which deals with
concepts from Critical Discourse Analysis and Argumentation Theory. This chapter
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includes subsections on categories of enquiry, followed by a section on a number of
recurring devices, namely: answering questions, changing the topic and quoting
scripture. A Critical Discourse Analysis section follows with subsections that include
difference, evaluation and knowledge as a common ground component of contexts.
This in turn is followed by sections on Argumentation Theory and Strategic
Maneuvering, which include subsections on economy, efficacy and coherence;
realism and wellfoundedness; logical reasoning process and pragmatic inferences;
reasonableness versus effectiveness; the rhetorical perspective; discussion
strategies; dialectical aims versus rhetorical aims and deceptive manoeuvring.
The final analysis chapter, the Contra Fortunatum in context, includes subsections
on the opening of the debate, the structure of the debate and the topics of
discussion. Within this last section subsections on the Nebridian conundrum, the
origin of evil, and free will occur. The next subsection dicusses topics not mentioned
in the debate: the Manichaean myth, Mani and the previous friendship between
Fortunatus and Augustine. Following this there are sections on Manichaeism
presenting itself as a form of Christianity, the debaters talking past each other and
the issues of audience composition and power relations between the various role
players. Chapter seven takes a concluding look at the issue of who should be
designated the winner of the debate.

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Opsomming
Augustinus van Hippo bly een van die mees prominente en invloedryke figure in die
wêreld van die Katolisisme, bekend vir sy vele skrywes en preke oor die Katolieke
Christendom sowel as sy ywerige verdediging daarvan. Sy debat met Fortunatus, ʼn
lid van die Manichese geloof, het aan Augustinus een van die bepalende oomblikke
in sy rol as Katolieke geestelike besorg. Die rede hiervoor is dat Augustinus ten tyde
van die debat nog net ʼn paar maande ʼn presbiter in die kerk in Hippo was; daarom
was daar baie op die spel in die debat teen hierdie gedugte opponent. Om dinge
selfs nog meer ingewikkeld vir Augustinus te maak, was hy self vir ten minste nege
jaar ‟n Manicheër en was hy bekend met Fortunatus se retoriese vermoëns.
Retoriek, of die kuns van oorreding, was egter „n veld waarin Augustinus uitgeblink
het. Hy het beide ʼn natuurlike aanvoeling vir redevoering sowel as ʼn formele
opleiding gehad.
Hoofstuk een van die proefskrif begin met ʼn inleiding tot die debat, die hoofkarakters
en die gelowe wat betrokke is. Hoofstuk twee gaan voort met ʼn uiteensetting van
Augustinus en sy assosiasie met die Manichese geloof en beskryf ook Augustinus se
anti-Manichese werke. Van hier af gaan hoofstuk twee dan verder met „n afdeling
oor die Manichese geloof, die mitologie en lewenswyse, sowel as die verspreiding
van die Manicheïsme. Met hierdie kontekstuele agtergrond as basis handel hoofstuk
drie oor die metodologie van Kritiese Diskoersanalise en die drie belangrikste
eksponente van hierdie teoretiese rigting, Halliday, Fairclough en Van Dijk. Hierdie
hoofstuk word gevolg deur nog ʼn teoretiese hoofstuk wat handel oor
Argumentasieteorie. Hoofstuk vier sluit onderafdelings in oor Van Eemeren en sy
metodologieë van Pragma-Dialektiek en Strategiese Maneuvers.
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Die ontledingshoofstukke van hierdie proefskrif begin by hoofstuk vyf wat handel oor
Kritiese Diskoersanalise en Argumentasieteorie. Hierdie hoofstuk sluit
onderafdelings in oor kategorieë van ondersoek, opgevolg deur ʼn gedeelte oor „n
aantal herhalende tegnieke: die beantwoording van vrae, die verandering van die
onderwerp en skrifaanhalings. ʼn Volgende afdeling oor Kritiese Diskoersanalise volg
daarop met onderafdelings wat verskil, evaluasie en kennis as ʼn gemeenskaplike
komponent op die terrein van konteks insluit. Hierop volg „n afdeling oor Strategiese
Maneuvers. Laasgenoemde sluit onderafdelings in oor ekonomie, doeltreffendheid
en koherensie; realisme en gegrondheid; logiese denkprosesse en pragmatiese
gevolgtrekkings; redelikheid versus effektiwiteit; die retoriese perspektief;
besprekingstrategieë; dialektiese doelwitte versus retoriese doelwitte en maneuvers
van misleiding.
Die finale ontledingshoofstuk, getiteld die Contra Fortunatum in konteks, sluit
onderafdelings in oor die openingsreëls van die debat, die struktuur van die debat en
tematiek daarvan. In die laaste afdelings word die kwessies van die Nebridiese
vraagstuk, die oorsprong van boosheid en die vrye wil ingesluit. Die volgende
onderafdeling bevat onderwerpe wat nie in die debat behandel word nie: die
Manichese mite, Mani en die vroeëre vriendskap tussen Fortunatus en Augustinus.
Daarop volg die afdelings oor die Manichese strategie om hierdie godsdiens as
Christelike godsdiens voor te stel, die deelnemers se taktiek om verby mekaar te
praat asook oor die samestelling van die gehoor en kwessie van die
magsverhoudinge tussen die onderskeie rolspelers. Die laaste hoofstuk sluit
samevattend af met „n kort bespreking van die kwessie van wie as die wenner van
die debat beskou moet word.

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Acknowledgements
There are just a few acknowledgements to be made the first of which is to my ever-
patient supervisor for this dissertation Doctor Annemaré Kotzé. Thank you for the
experience of the last three years, all their highs and lows. Secondly to the Graduate
School of the University of Stellenbosch, particularly Professor Johan Groenewald
and Doctor Cindy-Lee Steenekamp for all their considerable support both financially
and emotionally. Simply put, I doubt that I would have had the opportunity to do a
Doctorate without the bursary that you decided to award me.
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Dedication
To my whole family, without whom this would not have been possible.

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Contents
Contents .......................................................................................................................................................... viii
Chapter 1: Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 1
1.1 Introduction .......................................................................................................................................... 1
1.2 Research on the Contra Fortunatum .......................................................................................... 10
1.3 Role players and the religious context ...................................................................................... 11
1.3.1 Fortunatus ................................................................................................................................... 11
1.3.2 Augustine ..................................................................................................................................... 13
1.3.3 The audience ............................................................................................................................... 15
1.3.4 Catholicism .................................................................................................................................. 16
1.3.5 Manichaeism ............................................................................................................................... 18
1.4 Layout of the study ........................................................................................................................... 19
1.5 Conclusion ........................................................................................................................................... 20
Chapter 2: Augustine and Manichaeism ............................................................................................... 22
2.1 Augustine and Manichaeism ......................................................................................................... 22
2.2 Augustine’s works against the Manichees ............................................................................... 31
2.3 Manichaeism ....................................................................................................................................... 37
2.3.1 The spread of Manichaeism .................................................................................................. 38
2.3.2 The Manichaean mythology .................................................................................................. 39
2.3.3 The practice of Manichaeism ................................................................................................ 45
2.4 Conclusion ........................................................................................................................................... 48
Chapter 3: A Critical Discourse Analysis model for the Contra Fortunatum ........................... 50
3.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................ 50
3.2 M.A.K. Halliday ................................................................................................................................... 52
3.3 Norman Fairclough ........................................................................................................................... 54
3.4 Teun van Dijk...................................................................................................................................... 62
3.5 Conclusion ........................................................................................................................................... 65
Chapter 4: An Argumentation Theory model for the Contra Fortunatum ................................ 66
4.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................ 66
4.2 Frans van Eemeren ........................................................................................................................... 67
4.2.1 The Pragma-Dialectical approach ....................................................................................... 68
4.2.2 Strategic Maneuvering ............................................................................................................ 78
4.3 Conclusion ........................................................................................................................................... 87
Chapter 5: Argumentation strategies in the Contra Fortunatum ................................................ 88
5.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................ 88
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5.2 Categories of enquiry....................................................................................................................... 89
5.3 A number of recurring devices..................................................................................................... 89
5.3.1 Answering questions versus not answering questions ............................................... 90
5.3.2 Changing the topic .................................................................................................................... 93
5.3.3 Quoting scripture ...................................................................................................................... 96
5.4 Critical Discourse Analysis categories ...................................................................................... 99
5.4.1 Difference .................................................................................................................................. 100
5.4.2 Evaluation ................................................................................................................................. 104
5.4.3 Knowledge as a common ground component of contexts ....................................... 108
5.5 Argumentation Theory: Argumentative indicators (standpoints and disputes) .... 109
5.6 Strategic Maneuvering ................................................................................................................. 118
5.6.1 Requirements: economy, efficacy and coherence ...................................................... 119
5.6.2 Requirements: realism, wellfoundedness .................................................................... 127
5.6.3 Inferences: logical reasoning process and pragmatic inference .......................... 131
5.6.4 Reasonableness versus effectiveness ............................................................................. 134
5.6.5 Rhetorical perspective ......................................................................................................... 137
5.6.6 Discussion strategy: vertical and horizontal, convergence and coordination . 139
5.6.7 Dialectical aims versus rhetorical aims ......................................................................... 144
5.6.8 Deceptive manoeuvring ....................................................................................................... 148
5.7 Conclusion ........................................................................................................................................ 150
Chapter 6: The Contra Fortunatum in context ................................................................................. 152
6.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 152
6.2 The opening of the debate .......................................................................................................... 152
6.3 Structure of the debate ................................................................................................................ 156
6.4 The topics of discussion ............................................................................................................... 160
6.4.1 The Nebridian conundrum ................................................................................................. 160
6.4.2 The origin of evil .................................................................................................................... 177
6.4.3 Free will ..................................................................................................................................... 181
6.4.4 The nature of Christ .............................................................................................................. 184
6.5 Topics not mentioned in the debate ....................................................................................... 188
6.5.1 The Manichaean myth of creation.................................................................................... 188
6.5.2 Mani ............................................................................................................................................ 191
6.5.3 Previous friendship ............................................................................................................... 194
6.6 Manichaeism as Christianity ...................................................................................................... 195
6.7 Talking past each other ............................................................................................................... 197
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