Augustinian Composition Pedagogy and the Catholic Liberal Arts in the Time of Generative AI

Abstract

This article proposes a theoretical basis of Augustinian composition pedagogy by tracing the symbiotic relationship between writing and knowing found within St. Augustine’s Letters, The Trinity, Soliloquies, and Confessions and connecting them to modern writing-to-learn composition pedagogies. Given today’s trying times of generative AI, this article argues that Catholic schools revitalize the writing arts in a manner proposed by Augustine—that is, to enrich inward contemplation and outward love for others. In embracing such philosophy of writing and applying it across the disciplines, Catholic schools can enrich their distinctively Catholic liberal arts mission—and ward off dangers found in generative AI trends and overzealous relativism. By outlining the details and value of Augustinian writing pedagogy in relation to contemporary composition theory, this article provides educators with Augustinian language and perspectives to help design distinctively Catholic writing-intensive curriculum and learning objectives to foster in students what Pope Francis calls the “wisdom of the heart.”.