Augustine and the flexibility of true justice

Augustine's attitude toward changing times was marked by a great deal of flexibility. This attitude was the result, however, of studied reflection on the purpose of temporal change within history. Augustine was led to this reflection especially through his interactions with the Manichees and their criticism of the Old Testament. Whereas the Manichees attacked the Old Testament because of its alleged incompatibility with inflexible standards of moral behavior, Augustine countered that the Old Testament and the New corresponded to different ages or times, and that the Manichees had overlooked the need to, as it were, "change with the times." Ultimately, Augustine advocates for very few immutable rules, preferring a morality that is quite flexible. Such flexibility is a mark of realism, however.