The Distinction Between “Use” and “Enjoyment” in Augustinian Thought

In this article, I examine the fine distinction between “use” and “enjoyment” as articulated by Saint Augustine, particularly in his work On Christian Doctrine. My point is to explore Augustine’s conceptual framework, which provides complete insights into the appropriate relationship humans should have with created goods and the divine. By differentiating between instrumental use and ultimate enjoyment, Augustine offers a path towards a rightly ordered life aimed at achieving true fulfillment in God. Additionally, I contrast Augustine’s view with the hedonistic philosophy that prioritizes immediate gratification, highlighting the theological and ethical implications of his teachings.

Introduction

Saint Augustine’s distinction between “use” (usus) and “enjoyment” (fruitio) occupies a significant place within theological and philosophical discourse. Primarily explored in his work On Christian Doctrine, Augustine’s articulation offers a comprehensive understanding of how humans should interact with created goods and relate to God. This paper seeks to elucidate this distinction, exploring its implications for ethical living and its counterarguments against hedonism.

The Nature of Use

In Augustine’s thought, “use” denotes the appropriate employment of something as a means to an end. This instrumental relationship emphasizes that created things should aid in achieving a higher purpose, particularly one’s ultimate end in God. Wealth, knowledge, and relationships, for instance, can be utilized in ways that promote spiritual growth and charity. This concept of use is inherently temporary and functional, underscoring that these entities are steps or tools leading towards the ultimate goal of divine union (Augustine, 2009).

The Nature of Enjoyment

Conversely, “enjoyment” refers to taking delight in something for its own sake, deriving fulfillment and satisfaction from it. Augustine reserves this deep, intrinsic fulfillment for God alone, the highest good. Only God, being infinite and perfect, can provide ultimate satisfaction, whereas created things, being finite, fall short of this capacity. Enjoyment, thus, is an end in itself. Augustine’s assertion that “our hearts are restless until they rest in God” highlights this ultimate enjoyment found solely in the divine (Augustine, 2008).

Theological and Ethical Implications

Augustine’s distinction between use and enjoyment serves as a guide for Christians in orienting their lives properly. Misusing or enjoying created things as ends in themselves leads to idolatry and moral disorder. Augustine advocates for a hierarchical ordering of loves, wherein God is the supreme object of enjoyment, and all other loves are subordinate and directed towards Him. This hierarchy ensures that human loves reflect the divine order, fostering a rightly ordered life (Augustine, 1998).

Contrary Position: Hedonism

Hedonism, which promotes the pursuit of pleasure as the highest good, stands in stark contrast to Augustine’s distinction. This philosophy prioritizes immediate enjoyment and gratification, rejecting the instrumental use of things for a higher purpose. Augustine counters hedonism by emphasizing the transient and finite nature of created pleasures, which cannot provide lasting fulfillment. True happiness and rest, he argues, can only be found in God, who is infinite and eternal. The pursuit of pleasure in created things leads to a perpetual cycle of desire and dissatisfaction (Augustine, 2008).

Replies to Contrary Points

Hedonism’s focus on finite pleasures fails to address the human longing for infinite satisfaction. Augustine contends that temporary pleasures may offer momentary happiness but cannot fulfill the deeper yearning for eternity embedded in the human heart by God. Additionally, placing ultimate value on created things leads to moral disorder and vice, often resulting in unethical behavior that distances individuals from true happiness found in God. Augustine’s assertion that “our hearts are restless until they rest in you, O Lord” encapsulates the existential dissatisfaction with finite pleasures, positing that only in God can the human heart find true rest and contentment (Augustine, 2008).

Conclusion

Saint Augustine’s distinction between use and enjoyment provides a profound framework for understanding human interactions with created goods and the divine. By advocating for the use of things as means to the ultimate end in God and reserving true enjoyment for God alone, Augustine offers a pathway to a rightly ordered life that leads to genuine fulfillment and eternal happiness. This conceptual framework challenges hedonistic philosophies, emphasizing that only in God can the deepest human longings be truly satisfied. Augustine’s insights continue to resonate, offering timeless guidance for ethical and spiritual living.

References

Augustine. (1998). City of God. (H. Bettenson, Trans.). Penguin Books.

Augustine. (2008). Confessions. (H. Chadwick, Trans.). Oxford University Press.

Augustine. (2009). On Christian Doctrine. (D. W. Robertson Jr., Trans.). Prentice Hall.