The Teacher: Division 2 (b) (the End)

Augustine begins with a discussion of how without knowledge of the thing, signs cannot teach us anything about the thing itself.

Augustine further argues that nothing is learned by words. For Augustine learning occurs in this sequence: "we learn the meaning of word--that is the signification hidden in the sound--once the thing signified is itself known, rather than our perceiving of it by means of such signification" (137). We learn meaning, then, once the thing is seen--it is only then that the word makes sense.

Thus, for Augustine, words only have power in their ability to get us to look for things.

For Augustine, as well, what he understands, he believes, but not everything he believes does he understand. Believing and understanding, then, are two very different things.

In the end, Augustine warns his son about the power of words and not to give them too much power. Words are merely a "prompt" to learn and nothing more (146).