Augustine's teachings on human nature Flashcards
Human nature as created by God
-adam and eve created in gods image
-given a special place in the universe
-made from physical matter like rest of world
The fall
-serpents tempt eve to eat forbidden fruit
-adam also eats it, both fell away from perfect nature
-banished from garden, made to work for a living
-people no longer have the same access to god
Human relationships with god pre fall
-adam and eve can walk, talk, see god easily
-augustine believed state of loving friendship, concordia
-state of perfection, no sin, comfortable being naked
-had the freedom to disobey god
Human relationships with god post fall
-human will could be pulled in different directions
-flawed human nature makes wrongdoing inevitable
-original sin has corrupted humans ability to choose good
-can only be saved by the grace of god through jesus
Cupiditas and Caritas
-cupiditas, the love of worldly, material things which can make people unhappy
-caritas, the love of others displayed through the virtues which gives people spiritual happiness
Human nature post fall
-inclinations will always be to lust + selfishness
-need strong authority or desires will get out of hand
-sinful humanity is at the mercy of concupiscence, an appetite for material things
Augustines view on grace
-the only way people can be restored from original sin
-they will still sin but can still be accepted into heaven
-gods grace, is love and mercy, calms and helps the soul, gives moral guidance, makes people want to please god
Strengths of his view
-encourages humanity to take responsibility
-accounts for human emotions
-makes distinctions between types of love
-recognises humans weakness and reliance on god
Weaknesses of his view
-original sin is flawed as we see ourselves as individuals
-a loving god punishing people for others sins is wrong
-evolution suggests we aren’t as different from animals as the story of the fall says
Jean Jaques Rousseau
-people are born with a tabula rasa ‘blank slate’
-babies are not good or evil but neutral
Jean-Paul Sartre
-we dont come into the world predetermined by anything
-we are free as individuals to decide what we do with our lives
Thomas Hobbes
-people are selfish by nature
-we only work together as its in our own interests
