A*essay plan on Augustine (Developments in Christian Thought) written by an Oxford student. Covers AO1 and AO2. Perfect for essays and revision. Following these notes will guarantee you top marks.
Critically assess Augustine’s teaching that original sin is the reason why humans lack
free will. [40]
Introduction -Original sin: since the Fall, the close covenant between humans and God has been broken,
and as such, we are all born tainted with sin.
-The harmony (concordia) has been broken, and cupiditas has overpowered caritas.
-Sex is now tainted by concupiscence, as every act of sex is tainted by lust.
-Pre-Lapsarian vs Post-Lapsarian.
-Our ‘captive free will’ is weighed in favour of sin, but grace can help remove this.
-Pre-Lapsarian: our free will was used to be obedient towards God and contribute to
harmony.
-With the Fall, our will was tainted by a need for power and lust. Therefore (for Augustine),
concupiscence takes away free will.
-Fall of Man.
-Fall of Angels.
-St Augustine.
-Aquinas (synderesis principle).
-St Paul (“I do not do what I want but the very thing I hate”).
-Rousseau, Satre (supports the suffering of humans and captive wills- by society).
-Thomas Hobbes (against synderesis. We are harming nature).
-Genesis 3.
-Pelagius.
-Dawkins (creates a Christianity that seems focused on sin, sex and violence, which is very
problematic).
Original sin present in our post-Lapsarian world is a result of the Fall of Man (and Angels)
and the subsequent distortion of the covenant between man and God. Augustine takes this
biblical teaching on Original Sin to argue that humans lack free will, as this “captive free
will” is now weighed in favour of concupiscence and acts of lust. Whilst Augustine is
supported by scripture and figures such as St Paul, Hobbes, Rousseau and Sartre, his
teaching on free will is arguably very pessimistic and completely dependent on a belief in
God. Therefore, due to its heavily biblical nature, Augustine’s teachings on human will are
not completely convincing.
Paragraph 1 -Briefly outline original sin, the fall, free will and God’s grace.
-Then introduce the key objections to it.
Following -Critically evaluate original sin: Hobbes+Augustine vs Aquinas.
paragraphs -Humans are more than just their base instincts.
-Pessimistic.
-Misogynistic.
-We did not commit this sin, Adam and Eve did. Why should we be punished for this?
-Surely, we need free will in order to achieve goodness?
-Assumes we are all the same.
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