Augustine 3.2

Augustine’s Teaching on Human Nature

The Human Will After the Fall

  • Pride and Disobedience

    • Augustine discusses the effects of the Fall on human nature, particularly focusing on the divided will.

    • The Fall represents a fracture in the harmonious relationship humans once had with God.

Recap

  • Cupiditas vs. Caritas

    • Cupiditas: Refers to selfish love or desire.

      • Example: Desiring material wealth for personal gain.

    • Caritas: Refers to selfless love or charity.

      • Example: Helping others without expecting anything in return.

  • Marriage of Adam and Eve

    • Augustine concludes they were married as friends before the Fall, emphasizing companionship and unity.

  • Friendship as the Highest Expression

    • According to Augustine, genuine friendship exemplifies the best of human existence, rooted in mutual love and respect.

Pride and Disobedience

  • Rejection of Relationship with God

    • Augustine questions what would lead humans to reject their perfect relationship with God, identifying pride as the central reason.

  • Original Sin

    • The act of eating from the tree of knowledge:

      • Genesis 2:16-17 emphasizes God's command against eating the fruit.

      • Adam and Eve’s desire to become like God resulted in their disobedience.

Sources of Pride

  • Human Capacity for Pride

    • Augustine explores the origins of pride and its connection to the Fall.

    • This pride arises from a desire to usurp God’s authority and power.

Impact of Pride on Relationships

  • Separation of Cupiditas from Caritas

    • Augustine argues that pride disrupts the union with God, making it impossible to maintain a harmonious relationship.

    • In this act, humans allow cupiditas to prevail over caritas.

  • Satan's Fall

    • Satan, originally an angel, fell from grace due to his pride.

    • The ambition to reign led him to corrupt humanity.

Fall of the Angels

  • Biblical Foundation

    • References to the Fall of Satan found in Luke 10:18 and Matthew 25:41.

    • Questions arise regarding the motivations behind Satan's pride or envy that led to his fall.

The Devil in the Garden of Eden

  • Temptation of Eve

    • The devil, taking the form of a serpent, instigated disobedience in Eve by exploiting his envy towards humanity.

    • Augustine notes that after his fall, the devil aimed to lure humans into disobedience, desiring what they possessed.

The Nature of the Fall

  • Role of Human Will

    • Satan's suggestion was not sufficient for the Fall; humans possess the agency to choose.

    • The evil will that precedes the act signifies that free will exists but is often guided by pride, the root of all sin.

Division of Will

  • Corruption of the Will

    • Augustine contended that the will is not inherently corrupt; rather, it is weakened.

    • The body is not evil, but the will struggles to manage desires, leading to dissonance between carnal wants and moral knowledge.

Struggle of the Will

  • Rationality vs. Desire

    • Despite the will’s understanding of goodness, it finds it hard to act against its desires.

    • Augustine's reflections in Romans 7 reveal his inner conflict regarding his actions and desires, indicating a struggle between good and evil.

  • Confessions

    • He describes the will as ‘half-wounded’, indicating an ongoing internal conflict that results in disobedience.

    • His personal experience with celibacy showcases the difficulty of overcoming ingrained habits and desires.

Optimism in the Human Condition

  • Moral Goodness

    • The text questions whether humans can achieve true moral goodness.

    • Augustine's perspective may suggest limited optimism, as he emphasizes the struggle against the sinful nature post-Fall.