Sarah Byers

Sarah Byers is an Associate Professor in the Philosophy Department at Boston College. Her work focuses on Augustine’s ethics and moral psychology, particularly his engagement with Stoic and Neoplatonic philosophy. She specializes in exploring how ancient philosophical concepts, such as Stoic 'motivating impressions' (suggestio) and Neoplatonic metaphysics, shaped Augustine’s theological and ethical writings.

Byers received both her M.A. and Ph.D. in Philosophy from the University of Toronto. Her research interests include Augustine’s intellectual development, Hellenistic philosophy (especially Stoicism), the history of ethics, and metaphysical thought from antiquity to the medieval period. She teaches courses such as Ancient Greek Philosophy and Augustine Studies.

Her research highlights Augustine’s synthesis of Stoic epistemological frameworks with Platonist and Christian doctrines of grace. This synthesis addresses key issues like moral responsibility, the role of divine providence in human actions, and the nature of evil as privation. Byers also examines how Augustine’s understanding of 'voluntas' (will) and 'consubstantiality' interacts with broader theological and philosophical debates.

Her publications critically analyze Augustine’s ethical theories, focusing on topics like the psychology of compassion, the illumination theory of divine knowledge, and the cognitive causes of emotions. Byers has been featured in podcasts such as The History of Philosophy Without Any Gaps, where she discusses Augustine’s ethics and Stoic influences. Though no formal grants or advisees are listed, her work engages deeply with philosophical history and methodology.