Essentializing Youth

Augustine On Free Will

I was particularly struck, amidst this somewhat formal discourse on the origin of evil, by the testimony at the beginning of the second chapter of the De libero arbitrio. Augustine explains that the question of the origin of evil was 'precisely the problem that violently agitated me when I was very young, and which, out of weariness, pushed and precipitated me into heresy' (p. 108). I don't want to speak on behalf of young people or imply that there is such a thing as 'youth,' 'young people,' etc., that essentializes youth.

So I'll talk about what I feel like as a young person I was failed by not being offered a certain type of support. By doing so, I'll strive not to overgeneralize my own personal experience or assume that younger generations require someone to speak on their behalf. I sense how fraught this path is, and how I might have been better off avoiding it altogether. Am I even legitimate to speak on behalf of my younger self? Let's say it again: This is my individual perspective and is very likely not to reflect the experiences of everyone else, let alone young people.

So what resonated with me, and why do I believe - perhaps wrongly - that it could be helpful to others, whether young or beyond their youth. Does Augustine’s description of his struggles with the origin of evil during his youth resonate with the challenges faced by young individuals today? The question obviously is not so much 'Are we - and indeed why would it only be a concern for the young – also left to grapple with profound questions?' but is it anyone's role to provide adequate support? Is it the role of institutions like the Church or education? What is it that sometimes leads us towards extreme ideologies, conspiracy theories, or simply broken logic, contributing to feelings of fatigue and disillusionment? My premise was that a certain type of structure or support may help fight a sense of isolation, and that a sense of isolation is also part of this. Anyway, Augustine should be doing the talking: his personal journey, where he sought truth amidst uncertainty and found guidance, suggests the importance of personal reflection and growth in navigating such existential dilemmas.