Augustine on human nature

Question 1

Perfection before the Fall

Answer 1

God created humans in his ‘image and likeness of God’.
The state that Adam and Eve lived in was perfect harmony.

Question 2

The Fall explained

Answer 2

The serpent (Satan) tempts Eve to eat from the tree of knowledge and she does so.
They then come to realise they are naked and hide from God but he punishes them for disobeying him.

Question 3

Augustine’s view of the Fall

Answer 3

The shame of the nakedness and the punishment to Eve of lust and subordination defines male-female relationship post-fall.
All harmony is lost and self-love and generous love is separated.

Question 4

Lust after the Fall

Answer 4

Our will has been clouded and moves people away from the good.

Question 5

St Paul’s description in Romans 7:15

Answer 5

‘I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do’.

Question 6

Augustine’s interpretation of this passage

Answer 6

Refers to the need to overcome sexual desires as list begins to rule human relationships

Question 7

Augustine view of where corruption takes place

Answer 7

It is the will, not the body, that has been corrupted.

Question 8

Augustine’s view on humans being morally good

Answer 8

Everyone is corrupted by the Fall and the consequence of this is the existence of original sin.

Question 9

Hobbes’ view on humans being morally good

Answer 9

Human life is ‘solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short’.
The natural state of a human being and all that saves us is society, which makes us civilised.

Question 10

Rousseau’s view on humans being morally good

Answer 10

‘Man is born free and everywhere he is in chains’
Felt that it was society that had corrupted humans (opposite to Hobbes)

Question 11

Augustine’s response to Hobbes and Rousseau

Answer 11

Reject both views as they fail to understand the turning point in humanity- the Fall.

Question 12

God’s grace

Answer 12

It is freely given to undeserving humans and is seen especially in the sacrifice made by Jesus on the cross.

Question 13

Augustine’s view on human’s free will

Answer 13

Free will is naturally limited by the fact people are tainted by concupiscence which means we cannot choose the right action every time, even by the use of reason.

Question 14

Summum bonum

Answer 14

God’s goodness being a greatest good- it is part of God’s nature.

Question 15

Goodness on earth and heaven

Answer 15

Goodness in this world is only temporary, whereas the summum bonum is eternal happiness only found in the permanent presence of God.

Question 16

Augustine’s pessimistic view of humanity.

Answer 16

• we are tainted from the moment we are born.
  -little opportunity to develop away from our fallen states.
  -we can only pursue earthly peace of our will not true heavenly peace.
  -concupiscence is an extremely strong force we cannot escape.
• we are not truly free beings.

Question 17

Issue with Augustine’s pessimism

Answer 17

Comes out of his early life experiences so may reflect his state of mind more than God’s

Question 18

Augustine’s optimistic view of human nature-

Answer 18

There is something to look forward to- heavenly peace is achievable.
Gods grace is given to underserving humans.
Jesus died on the cross to save humans from sin- paid the price for their sinful natures.

Question 19

Catholic Church’s optimism on Gods grace-

Answer 19

Believes the Fall was a happy fault of Adam- his sin meant that the inexpressibly greater blessings of Jesus could be given to the world.

Question 20

Christians optimism of Gods grace-

Answer 20

From the moment of the Fall, God was working with mysterious goodness in the world and the joy of Jesus’ resurrection overcomes all pessimism.

Question 21

Effects of original sin on the will-

Answer 21

For Augustine original sin characterises human nature. Therefore the will continues in its disharmony, continuing to rebel.

Question 22

Effects of original sin on the will sexually-

Answer 22

Disharmony is caused sexually as man loses his ability to control his sexual desires.

Question 23

Augustine’s belief on the passing of original sin-

Answer 23

Passed through sexual intercourse as all humans are united through being descendants of Adam and Eve and all are conceived by the result of lust.

Question 24

Effects of original sin on societies-

Answer 24

After the Fall humans need proper authority to control them- shown in the old testament through the different types of leaders.
Slavery was an example of the effect of the Fall on society.