有關靈魂的本性問題是西方哲學在人學的探討上的一重要問題。奧斯定在傳統的對靈魂的理解所達到的非物質、可理解的本性的肯定上，他進一步從靈魂有著自我臨在及自我意識的可能，以論證理性的靈魂對自己及自己的認識活動上的認識，無需任何身體的媒介，他因而肯定靈魂的精神本性。人是一由精神的靈魂及物質的身體組合的一完整的人。

The nature of the soul (psyche) is one of the most concerned problems in western anthropology. Based on the traditional idea of the immaterial and intelligible nature of the rational soul, Augustine comes to understand the spiritual nature of the soul, through its self-presence and self-consciousness, that the rational soul (mens) has self knowledge of itself and its own knowing activities, in doing so, it needs no bodily organs. Man is therefore composed of a spiritual soul and a material body.