Human Nature & Moral Goodness

Introduction/Thesis:

Augustine claims humans are morally flawed due to Original Sin; free will exists but is weakened due to its strong hold on all of us as we are said to be descendants of the Biblical figures of Adam and Eve who passed on Original Sin from the Fall to all of us. But this initial idea and Augustine’s derived viewpoint of human nature has been contested by many other philosophers and their alternative views. I will be arguing FOR/AGAINST… (decide)

Argument 1 (Humans’ concupiscence —> (Humans Cannot Be Fully Good)

Argument 2 (Humans Cannot Be Fully Good):

Augustine - Concupiscence dominates human will giving us moral imperfection. Have a tendency towards Sin despite some of our conscience efforts to avoid it.

Counter-Argument

Rousseau — humans are naturally good; society corrupts - not some inherited Original Sin

Evaluation: Seems the more logical point/reason. But in reality societal influences hard to avoid, so overall has same effect on us - tendency towards sin

Argument 3 (God’s Grace vs. Role/Importance of our own Free Will)

Argument 3 (Role/Importance of Free Will):

Augustine - Humans cannot achieve moral perfection alone, need divine grace (caritas vs. cupiditas).

Counter-Argument

Pelagius — moral effort is possible without inherited sin. Believed we have complete free will over our choices not inherited sin (babies born with sin??)

Evaluation: Shows tension between divine grace and human responsibility - the more convincing view may be that divine Grace is rather a safety net than a trampoline - in the sense that it is not something to be relied upon as it is our own choice to Sin we ultimately is our fault - Not Original Sin almost forcing us to Sin and to be saved by God’s Grace almost inevitably - reduces meaning of God having Grace - Grace to forgive us

Conclusion

It is more up to us to, with complete freedom, to do what is right/ good deeds, despite negative pressures of society + overall psychological influences of upbringing. Pelagius said we are “educated in evil“; I would slightly differ to say that our upbringing is closer to being “not educated in goodness“ so that Sin may creep into many’s habits. But we have some intrinsic sense that Sin is wrong - hints at Original Sin not binding us to Sin but rather a sense of Morality that binds us to the good.