Augustine 4

Augustine's Teaching on Human Nature

The Human Will After the Fall

  • The Fall marks a significant change in humanity's moral and spiritual status.

Concupiscence and Original Sin

  • Original Sin fundamentally alters the human will.

Recap

  • Question: How did Adam and Eve possess the capacity for the first sin?

  • Pride as the Cause of the Fall: Augustine believes that pride is the foundational sin that leads to other sins.

    • Discussion: This invites exploration into how pride manifests in various aspects of human behavior.

Concupiscence

Division of the Human Will

  • The consequence of the Fall leads to separation between caritas (love) and cupiditas (desire).

    • This division results in internal conflict within the human will.

Definition and Characterization

  • Concupiscence refers to an inclination towards bodily desires or passions, seen as indicative of the sinful human condition.

  • It highlights the prevailing tendencies and appetites leading humans towards sin.

Experiences of Concupiscence

Examples of Bodily Appetites

  • Alcohol consumption, gluttony, sexual desire, and the need for approval.

Concupiscence in Friendships

  • Augustine suggests that concupiscence is painfully revealed in friendships.

    • Despite positive connections, jealousy and betrayal highlight the divisions within human desires.

    • Quote from Confessions: "The snare of concupiscence awaits me in the very process of passing from the discomfort of hunger to the contentment which comes when it is satisfied." (Confessions, 10.31)

    • Illustration of Human Will: The dynamics of relationships illustrate the struggle between caritas and cupiditas.

Original Sin

Explanation of Original Sin

  • Represents an ontological condition, a fundamental flaw in human nature due to the first sin.

    • Not merely behavior but a deeper condition affecting every generation.

Justifying the Doctrine

  • Augustine in the Pelagian controversy argued for original sin's necessity to explain the need for Christ's incarnation and death.

  • Connection to Romans 5: This biblical chapter supports the concept of original sin, as it discusses the impact of Adam's actions on all of humanity.

Consequences of Original Sin

Double Death

  • The first death denotes the separation from God, symbolized by Adam and Eve's shame.

  • The second death is physical mortality introduced by the Fall.

Transmission of Original Sin

  • Original sin's consequences are passed through generations, similar to bad fruit from a bad tree.

  • Human beings are 'born in sin' due to concupiscence in every act of procreation.

    • Quote from City of God: "Only those who are set free through God’s grace escape from this calamitous sequence." (City of God, 13.14)

Critiques of Augustine's Understanding

  • Discussion on potential critiques regarding the nature and implications of original sin's transmission.

Extension

Writing Prompt: Assessing Augustine's Relevance Today

  • Plan: Use the structure Point, Evidence, Explanation, Analysis, Evaluation, Link to explore the ongoing relevance of Augustine's assessment of human nature in contemporary discussions.