Augustins Tropus-Begriff: Umfang und Struktur. Beitrag zu einer tropologischen Hermeneutik

Abstract

This paper explores the concept ‘trope’ in the text of Augustine. After preliminary remarks on tropus, first, I analyse Augustine’s theory of sign in the second part of De magistro where Augustine defines the sign as a unit consisting of the signifier and the signified and illustrates the pragmatic conditions under which a signifier is interpreted as a sign. Second, I point out that according to the pragmatic dimension of Augustine’s biblical hermeneutics the reference of the biblical texts to the regula fidei is essential to the distinction between the literal and the figurative or tropical meaning and consequently to the extension of ‘trope’ which Augustine describes as meaning one thing in saying another. Third, I explain the tradition, the logical principles, and the classification of the tropes which are found in Augustine. Finally, the paper sheds light on the importance of the knowledge of trope to the biblical exegesis.