The book offers a theory of the human mind or intellect covering its creation, structure and functions and defines its relationship to human behaviour. A theory of Culture is also offered which defines a culture in terms of the successes and failures of problem solving at the individual level. Since human behaviour is determined by the culture and the intellect it follows that these structures may be investigated by the study of behaviour.
The aim of Augustinian philosophy was the discovery of universal laws governing or regulating human thought, seen as Epistemology.
Epistemology is a science and the search for relevant facts is a scientific problem. Philosophical conclusions are ultimately dependent on the findings of science. In the field of Epistemology Philosophy's task is to define what problems need to be addressed and what facts are required, and Science's task is to organise itself to find that information. However, any denial of mental experience including general experience such as individual consciousness cannot be accepted as scientific. A scientific theory of the intellect, including the psychological dimension in which it exists, is offered as a framework for research.
Neo-Augustinian knowledge theory begins with problems and seeks solutions based on creative problem-solving. The basic methodology is given by the problem and solution formula, which may be applied to both philosophy and science. The problem is initially defined by philosophy and is investigated by scientific method.
The Augustinian understanding is open to human experience and is fully able to assimilate better knowledge. Here, the conditions are that the better knowledge must have survived the confrontation with the tests of experience and must have produced the benefits required by the purposes driving the need for the better theory.
The individual human mind comprises the intellect and the intellect support system. The intellect is defined as the set of understandings, functioning under the direction of an intelligence.
The individual acts according to his understanding and purposes. The successful achievement of purposes depends on the correctness of the understanding, and correct understandings are knowledge.
The founders of Western Culture in 800CE would be astounded and almost certainly incredulous if they could be informed of the progress of the culture in 1200 years. A recital of the details of that progress covering achievements such as medicine, electronics, and aeronautics might sound to them like magic. It is, however, the result of growing confidence in human intellectual powers, creative thinking and hard work. Creating a better world through knowledge, starting from the present, would take far less than 1200 years.
