Augustine between Plotinus and Porphyry: A Possible Answer to the Problem of the Identity of the Platonicorum Libri

This article proposes to solve the question of whether Porphyry could be considered to have been one of the authors of Augustine’s Platonicorum libri by centering on a seemingly marginal detail: Augustine’s acquaintance, during his stay in Italy and immediately after his return to Africa, with Porphyry’s engagement with the doctrine of the astral body. The writings of Porphyry that were allegedly part of the Platonicorum libri show a clear and unmistakable presence of the doctrine of the astral body. However, in his works composed in Italy Augustine does not appear to be aware of this. Thus, most likely Porphyry’s works were not part of the books that had such a great influence in Augustine’s conversion.