Class Notes on Augustine

(Originally written November 9, 2006 in Book 11)

Augustine - Ethics

Ordo Amoris - "order of loves"

Life as a drama

Original Sin
-Formalized by Augustine
-Involves both guilt and corruption

Adam's sin had no efficient cause - it was a privation

Other Doctrines in City of God

1. Creation "ex nihilo"
2. Hierarchy of Being
God
Angels
Man
Primates
etc.
3. God has no opposite
4. All beings have some good
5. Divine sovereignty and foreknowledge are consistent with human freedom.

Political Philosophy

1. City of God v. City of Man
2. Just War theory

Problem of Evil

2 Types

1) God created all things
Evil is a thing
Therefore, God created evil.

Augustine's response: Evil is not a thing, it is a privation of good.

2) An all powerful, all knowing, all good God will not allow evil.
Evil exists.
Therefore, God is not all powerful, all good, and all knowing.

Augustine's response was to deny that an all powerful, all knowing, all good God would not allow evil.

Theodicies
1) Aesthetic Totality Theory
2) Evil for Greater Good