Augsutine Essay Plans Flashcards
Is Augustine a pessimist or an optimist ?
Pessimist
Who is Augustine ?
Theologian and philosopher of Berber origin
Believed fall was the turning point in humanity
what scholars will you use in pessimist vs optimist ?
Augustine
Pelagius
What is your para 1 pint - pessimist vs optimist ?
Predestination
Limited election
No hope for good and virtuous life
All we can do is hope
What is your evidence in para 1 pessimist vs optimist ?
“Unless the lord grant it victory in answer to prayer that it enter not into temptation “
Who can u compare aug to in para 1 pessimist vs optimist ?
Jean- paul Sartre
Believed we have freedom to make our own destinies
What is the counter argument para 1 in pessimist vs optimist ?
Heaven is a possibility for some so we can hope
Could be a realist instead of a pessimist
He provides an explanation to problem of evil and why people sin
How will you counteract the counter argument in para 1 pessimist vs optimist ?
We wont all go to heaven
If we do good deeds they could be pointless
Could cause people to star away from god and lose faith which could cause us to sin more and break society
What is the point in para 2 pessimist vs optimist ?
He states we are tainted from birth
No escape
We are driven by concupiscence
We have been take over by cupiditas
What is cupiditas ?
Selfish love and desires
Who can you compare aug to in para 2 pessimist vs optimist ?
Pelagius
God = omnibenevolent and all forgiving so bad stuff happens on our own accord
What is the evidence for para 2 pessimist vs optimist?
“The lord our god is merciful and forgiving , even though we have rebelled against him “
What is the counter argument for para 2 pessimist vs optimist?
Grace of god can save us - Augustine gave us a solution
“For god so loved the world that he gave his one and only son”
Humans can overcome their damaged nature through Jesus
Grace= undeserved - omnibenevolent
How ill u counteract the counter argument in para 2 pessimist vs optimist?
Only god chooses certain people to give his grace too
Is there a distinctive human nature ?
No
What is human nature ?
The charcteristics and fundamental principles which make up the human population
Which scholars will you use in distinctive human nature ?
Augustine
Freud
Locke
Hobbes
What is your point in para 1 distinctive human nature ?
John Locke - we are born with a blank slate - “tabula rosa “
We build up who we are through decisions and experiences
What is the counter argument in para 1 distinctive human nature ?
Augustine - human nature has changed in the fall
B4- friendship relationships , lived in obedience with god
After- embarrassment about being naked , disobeyed God , kicked out of garden of Eden
Also concupiscence
How will you counteract the counter argument in para 1 distinctive human nature ?
Fall = a metaphor
Evolution , natural selection , genetic diversity
Could have been a warning from god or a reflection of the struggle in life
What si the para 2 point in distinctive human nature ?
Freud - physcologist - humans are governed by memories and feelings , we make our own decisions
Many societies and states are different too
What is the para 2 counter argument in distinctive human nature ?
Augustine - there’s an ideal human nature tht God has intended for us (innocent , friendship, ppeaceful0 however we changed that after the fall
How will you counteract the counter argument in para 2 distinctive human nature ?
No right way to be a human
Human nature may have changed for Adam and Eve cos they eceprienced it however that doesn’t mean it changed for us
Are Augustine’s teaching convincing ?
No
What scholars will you use in Augustine’s teachings convincing ?
Augustine
Pelagius
What is the point in para 1 Augustine’s teachings convincing ?
Did the fall actually happen
Textual analysis of genesis 1-3 - different actors
Mtythical story / metaphor - very different to modern life
Evolution !!
What is the counter argument in para 1 Augustine’s teachings convincing ?
Story is so far reaching
Explain the patriarchal society - eves punishment
Husbands will rule over their wives
What is the quote for para 1 counter argument in Augustine’s teachings convincing ?
“Your desire shall be contrary to husbands but he shall rule over you “
How will you counteract the counter argument in para 1 Augustine’s teachings convincing ?
More scientific evidence - genetic diversity
Unjust if we are even related to them but still tainted
What si the point in para 2 Augustine’s teachings convincing ?
Human behaviour seems to have morally improved since time of Jesus - romans = punishment
How could this happen if we are doomed for eternity
God = omnibenevolent
What is the evidence for para 2 in Augustine’s teachings convincing ?
“The lord our god is merciful and forgiving , even though we have rebelled against him “
What is the counter argument for para 2 in Augustine’s teachings convincing ?
The quote - says we have rebelled against him we are not deserving of his forgiveness as we have rebelled
Augustine - pear confession as a child
“I loved my own undoing”
Shows if innocent kids sin for the sake of it we must have original sin - tainted from birth
How will you counteract the counter argument in para 2 in Augustine’s teachings convincing ?
Pelagius - sin only occurs cos of the way we are raised and society - only certain members do crimes and many prisoners come from problematic backgrounds
Without gods grace can humans be morally good ?
Ye
What did Augustine understand gods grace as ?
Something which no human can deserve on their own
What scholars will you use in gods grace ?
Hobbes
Pelagius
Augustine
John Locke
What is the point in para 1 in gods grace ?
Fall = metaphor
Textual analysis n
Mythical story / metaphor
Metaphor for struggle we all go through
What is the evidence in para 1 in gods grace ?
Confessions
“I fell away from you, my God,and i went astray”- just like in the fal !!
What is the counter argument in para 1 in gods grace ?
If fall didn’t occur why is their war , violence , murder
Gods generous love is only thing which can save us from originas in
How will you counteract the counter argument in para 1 in gods grace ?
Catholics - concupiscence is only an inclination to sin and not actually sin - therefore we aren’t all doomed
Over the years humans have morally improved so we just need more time
What is the point in para 2 in gods grace ?
Bible is full of commands from God for humans to do morally good actions so why would he do this if he knew that we have original sin and therefore wouldn’t have the ability to obey them
What is the counter argument in para 2 in gods grace ?
Thomas hobbes - humans are by their very nature selfish and not abe to do amoral things even if god asks
Also sunnnum bonnum - greatest good
Could this be moral goodness - Aug - we need to reconcile our relationship with God before we can achieve this
how will you counteract the counter argument in para 2 in gods grace ?
To clear what moral goodness is
Could be perfection = not achievable
Or could be good deeds - which is possible without gods grace !
