Augustine On Human Nature Flashcards
(30 cards)
What was the state of the Garden of Eden before the Fall, according to Augustine?
It was a place of perfect harmony where Adam and Eve had a balanced relationship with nature and each other, and human rationality perfectly controlled the body.
What changed after the Fall, according to Augustine?
Human nature became corrupted, leading to pain in childbirth, toil for survival, shame in nakedness, lust, and selfish desires.
How does Augustine explain the transmission of original sin?
He believed all humans were “seminally present in the loins of Adam,” meaning original sin is inherited through sexual reproduction.
What are the two deaths caused by original sin, according to Augustine?
The loss of friendship between humans and God, and the mortality of human beings.
How does Augustine differentiate between pre-lapsarian (before the Fall) and post-lapsarian (after the Fall) human nature?
Before the Fall, human will, reason, and body were in harmony; after the Fall, concupiscence (bodily desire overpowering reason) disrupted this balance.
Why does Augustine argue that human society is inherently corrupt?
Original sin leads to selfishness, a lack of free will, and instability in all human societies.
What are the two types of love in Augustine’s philosophy?
Cupiditas (selfish love for earthly things) and Caritas (selfless, virtuous love as an expression of God’s will).
How does Augustine relate sexual desire to original sin?
He sees concupiscence (the overpowering of reason by bodily desire) as a direct result of the Fall, most evident in uncontrolled sexual impulses.
What role does grace play in Augustine’s theology?
Grace is God’s undeserved gift that allows some humans to be saved and enter heaven.
What is predestination in Augustine’s thought?
The idea that God has already determined who will be saved (the elect) and who will be damned.
How does Augustine interpret St. Paul’s writings in Romans 8 regarding salvation?
He believes Paul supports predestination, meaning human fate in the afterlife is already fixed.
What is “double predestination”?
The belief that some people are predestined for heaven, while others are destined for hell.
What is the Summum Bonum, and how does it relate to salvation?
It is the highest good—eternal happiness with God—which only some people can achieve.
What scientific evidence challenges Augustine’s view of the Fall?
Genetic diversity suggests that humanity did not descend from a single pair (Adam and Eve), contradicting the idea of inherited original sin.
How does Augustine’s understanding of reproduction weaken his argument?
He incorrectly believed in the homunculus theory (that tiny humans existed in men’s semen), leading to an incorrect explanation of inherited sin.
How did G.K. Chesterton and R. Niebuhr defend Augustine’s view?
They argued that original sin is empirically verifiable through human selfishness and societal corruption.
Why does Pelagius reject the concept of original sin?
He argues that if humans were completely corrupted by sin, it would be unjust for God to punish them; instead, he believes humans have free will to choose good.
What ethical problem arises from Augustine’s view of original sin?
It implies that all humans are guilty of Adam’s sin, making God’s judgment seem unjust, especially in cases like a suffering child.
Why does Augustine believe faith in Jesus is necessary for salvation?
He argues that original sin has corrupted humanity so much that only divine intervention (grace) allows true faith.
How does the Church help humans overcome original sin?
Through baptism, which helps close the wound of original sin, and by guiding believers toward faith.
How does Jesus’ crucifixion relate to Augustine’s view of redemption?
Jesus’ death paid the price for humanity’s sinful nature, allowing salvation through grace
What was Pelagius’ main argument against Augustine’s view of human nature?
He argued that humans must be capable of moral goodness because God commands them to act morally.
How does Pelagius argue that Augustine’s doctrine leads to fatalism?
If humans are so corrupted they cannot avoid sin, there would be no motivation to strive for moral goodness.
What does Pelagius believe about free will?
That humans have free will to do good but are assisted by divine help in making good choices.
