An Anachronistic Analysis of St. Augustine’s Asymmetric Conception of Time Perception

A necessary backdrop to understanding St Augustine of Hippo's (354-430 c.e.)
asymmetric1 conception of time perception is the relationship between the
interior and exterior worlds. For Augustine, the soul, as the locus of perception,
resides in the interior world. Whereas the body resides in the exterior
world. One of the key differences between the interior versus exterior worlds, I
identify, is that asymmetric theories of time hold in each world. In the exterior
world, where only the present exists, a presentist theory of time holds. Whereas
in the interior world where the past, present, and future co-exist,
an eternalist
theory of time holds. Although this analysis is anachronistic, being through the
lens of contemporary taxonomy of theories of time, it is nonetheless important.
From the analysis, which uses mathematics and property predicate logic, I conclude
that Augustine's conception of time perception is not only asymmetric it is inconsistent.
I end this paper by noting that the identified inconsistency in Augustine's conception
of time perception is also a problem for other accounts with asymmetric
theories of time within one framework. Accounts such as the Newtonian mathematical
versus common time, as well as the recognition of quantum time versus spacetime
in contemporary physics.