Income Taxes (Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Aug. 31, 2018	Aug. 31, 2017
Deferred tax assets:
Net operating loss carry forward	$ 119,259	$ 268,853
Receivables	7,111	7,497
Inventories	7,634	11,618
Compensated absences	8,266	10,981
Accrued expenses	81,912	93,413
Property, plant and equipment, principally due to differences in depreciation and amortization	97,420	81,954
U.S. federal and state tax credits	70,153	57,122
Foreign jurisdiction tax credits	25,887	24,641
Other	18,176	14,573
Total deferred tax assets before valuation allowances	445,785	589,812
Less valuation allowances	(223,487)	(285,559)
Net deferred tax assets	222,298	304,253
Deferred tax liabilities:
Unremitted earnings of non-U.S. subsidiaries	74,654	86,202
Intangible assets	39,122	48,229
Cash flow hedges	0	8,564
Other	4,655	4,863
Total deferred tax liabilities	118,431	147,858
Net deferred tax assets	103,867	156,395
U.S.
Deferred tax assets:
Equity compensation	7,566	16,460
Non U.S.
Deferred tax assets:
Equity compensation	$ 2,401	$ 2,700