Augustine Flashcards
What is meant by the creation?
Something good: The belief that God created the world as a good thing
What is emant by the fall?
sin/evil: mankind has fallen in sin/evil and rabbled to God and therefore the world is corrupted
What is emant by redemption grace?
God reached out to save his own creation and rescue mankind
What is meant by renewal?
Heavenly city: people are able to live in happiness and peace; people Who don’t believe in God, are not allowed in the heavenly city.
What are the two main works of Augustine?
- Confessiones,
- De Civitate Dei Confessiones.
Personal (autobiography) book
What is in De Civitate Dei?
Defending Christians because they got blamed for the sack of rome.
(the 9/11 of rome)
What is the key argument of De Civitate Dei?
there are two types of city in this world:
- Civitas Terrena
- Civitas Dei
What is Civitas Terrena ?
The earthly city, the city of the world. for example Rome, the city where sins are made
What is Civitas Terrena ?
The earthly city of this world. Rome, the empire of sin
What is Civitas Dei?
The city of God, in heaven and on earth.
What is the problem with Civitas Terrena?
There is no justice in Civitas terrena, that leads to no “people” what leads to no res publica.
in Augustines words: If justice is absent, what are kingdoms other than big robber band.
What is caritas (humility)?
The live of god + others
What is cupiditas (pride)?
Love of self
What have Caritas (humility) and cupiditas (pride) in common?
One common object of love: earthly peace
What is the just war theory?
War should be avoided (last resort)
Only defensive, against grave injustices (just cause); an offensive war cannot be just
When is war just, accoriding to just war theory?
- By proper authority (no private wars)
- With a reasonable chance of success
- With proportionality
4, Aimed at peace (right intention)
What is Augustines main argument in the city of God?
Even though there is huge diversity around the world when it comes to ways of living, there is only one cleavage that really matters: the cleavage between those who belong to the City of God and those who belong to the Earthly City
What is the difference of people living in the city of god and those in the earthly city?
The difference between the two is in their notion of what is good. This is a difference in their most fundamental loves. ‘There is a division between two types of loving: use which is using things when we love them for the sake of something else, and enjoyment which is enjoying things when we love them for their own sake.
Only God is worthy of being loved entirely for his own sake. Human beings have divided wills, as they a ways have a love of self while also trying to maintain some kind of love for God. Despite this, Augustine argues that some people are fundamentally ‘focused on the love of God, while others are focused on loving themselves,
