Augustine on Human Nature Flashcards
What is Augustine’s teaching based on?
Genesis 3 and Romans 7 (in which Paul struggles with sin)
What does human nature include?
Human will which is God-given
What are the two types of love we have in our will?
1) Cupiditas - self-love of impermanent selfish things
2) Caritas - selfless love of others
What was human nature like in the Pre-Lapsarian world?
- Humans (Adam and Eve) enjoyed harmony in relationships with God, each other, and nature
- The will is united as Caritas and Cupiditas were in harmony
- Augustine valued Concordia as the highest expression of human existence
- Leaders in society were like shepherds or guides
What is Concordia?
friendship
What is Caritas?
selfless love of others
What is Cupiditas?
self-love of impermanent selfish things
What was the fall?
When Adam and Eve disobeyed God and is a pivotal moment that changed God-given order and separated Cupiditas and Caritas creating disharmony.
What was human nature like in the Post-Lapsarian world?
- Cupiditas is now in control and the will is “half-winded” and “divided” as it is tainted with original sin
- Humans now struggle with concupiscence
- Original sin is passed on through sec as every act of sex is tainted by concupiscence so every human is born in sin except Jesus
- Humans still have free will but have a tendency to choose evil over good like a faulty scale
- Due to original sin leaders in society have to be forceful leaders
What is concupiscence?
A weakness of will eg) sexual lust, lust for food, money, power etc
What is Augustine’s view of God’s grace?
- Grace is God’s free and undeserved love for humanity shown through God’s sacrifice of Jesus on the cross
- Augustine is often called the doctor of grace because of his emphasis on grace
- Only God’s generous love can heal the damaged will and restore humanity’s relationship with God
- He says no human can reconcile with God through their own efforts
What are the criticisms of Augustine’s view on human nature?
- Some argue his view of the will is pessimistic
+ Some argue his view of grace is optimistic - The fall can be interpreted as a myth for our spiritual journey
- The fall goes against evolutionary biology which suggests that humanity is improving (Schleiermacher’s scientific error)
- It seems unfair that God punishes us for the mistakes of our ancestors - Dawkins - “What kind of ethical philosophy is it that condemns every child, even before it is born, to inherit the sin of a remote ancestor?”
- If the damage is done why try to be good?
- Did God know we could be tempted? This questions his omnibenevolence and omniscience (Schleiermacher’s moral error)
What is Pelagius’ view of human nature?
COUNTER
He argued that human nature is not flawed and that sin must be freely chosen not inherited. Humans are only responsible for their own sin and humans don’t have to sin - it is theoretically possible for them to do good.
What is J Rousseau’ view of human nature?
COUNTER
He argued “man is born free, and everywhere he is in chains. Many a man believes himself to be the master of others who is, no less than they, a slave”. He thought that naturally humans are generous and only act otherwise because of their situation. A human’s purpose is to break those chains by appreciating each other.
What is Steven Pinker’s view of human nature?
COUNTER
He argued for the humanitarian principle which says that we improve when we take into account the interests of other which does not require God’s grace.
