St Augustine - Human Nature Flashcards
(22 cards)
What did Augustine do after writing Confessions?
He converted to Christianity
What did Augustine admit to in Confessions & what did he say about sex?
He admitted to having a live-in mistress. Sex had a “powerful psychological effect that women lead people astray to”
What club was Aug in at university and how did he describe it?
The Wreckers - “a hissing cauldron of lust”
Who were two people that inspired Augustine?
St Ambrose (the Bishop of Milan) & St Paul
What were Augustine’s 2 key beliefs?
- Humans cannot find truth through reason alone
- We need the Grace of God
How did Peter Brown describe Augustine?
He would “never visit a woman unchaperoned”
What do we need to have harmony/cooperation between?
Body, will & reason
What are the two types of love?
Cupiditas (self-love) and Caritas (generous love)
How do we know Adam & Eve’s sex was not lustful?
“be fruitful and multiply”
How do we know Adam & Eve felt no shame or embarassment?
“The man and woman were both naked but they felt no shame”
Why does the nakedness drive the lust?
“I heard you in the garden and I was afraid because I was naked so I hid”
How does Augustine describe the will after the fall? What is this similar to that Plato + Aristotle doubt?
“half-wounded” & arkasia (ancient philosophy)
What does Paul say about his will in Romans?
“I do not do what I want but I do the very thing I hate. It is not I who does it but the sin that dwells within me.”
What is the libido controlled by?
Concupiscence
What is the only thing that can redeem us? Where is the example of this in Ephesians?
God’s Grace; “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and not that of yourselves, it is the gift of God”
How does Augustine describe humanity?
Massa Damnata
What are Pelagius’ 2 points about the fall?
The fall is an example of disobedience + God would not command us to be good if it was impossible.
What happened at Council of Carthage 418AD?
Pelagius was condemned and Aug became the orthodox view
What does Neibuhr say?
Original Sin is “inevitable but not necessary”
What does Freud say?
We each go through our own personal ‘fall’ in our lives but instead of grace we need psychoanalysis
What does Pinker say?
“Mutual unselfishness is the only way we can simultaneously pursue our interests”
What does Dawkins say and how does Freud agree?
“It’s unhealthy obsession with sin, guilt, violence and repressed sexuality” -> We should not feel guilty for experiencing pleasure”
