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Augustine on Love and Augustine on Love and GodGod
IntroductionIntroduction
IntroductionIntroduction
Aurelius Augustinus (354-430)Aurelius Augustinus (354-430)
IntroductionIntroduction
Fall of RomeFall of Rome
IntroductionIntroduction
Fall of Rome (Divided)Fall of Rome (Divided)
IntroductionIntroduction
Fall of Rome (Attacked)Fall of Rome (Attacked)
IntroductionIntroduction
Fall of Rome (Sacked 410 AD)Fall of Rome (Sacked 410 AD)
IntroductionIntroduction
Fall of Rome (Sacked 410 AD)Fall of Rome (Sacked 410 AD) Augustine in Augustine in De Civitate DeiDe Civitate Dei (City of (City of
God) tries to explain thisGod) tries to explain this
IntroductionIntroduction
‘‘Salvation’ ReligionsSalvation’ Religions
IntroductionIntroduction
‘‘Salvation’ ReligionsSalvation’ Religions Incompetence of EmpireIncompetence of Empire
IntroductionIntroduction
‘‘Salvation’ ReligionsSalvation’ Religions Incompetence of EmpireIncompetence of Empire Oppression of common populaceOppression of common populace
IntroductionIntroduction
‘‘Salvation’ ReligionsSalvation’ Religions Incompetence of EmpireIncompetence of Empire Oppression of common populaceOppression of common populace Irrelevance of philosophers’ ideals and Irrelevance of philosophers’ ideals and
recommendations for livingrecommendations for living
IntroductionIntroduction
‘‘Salvation’ ReligionsSalvation’ Religions Incompetence of EmpireIncompetence of Empire Oppression of common populaceOppression of common populace Irrelevance of philosophers’ ideals and Irrelevance of philosophers’ ideals and
recommendations for livingrecommendations for living Seek help elsewhereSeek help elsewhere
IntroductionIntroduction
‘‘Salvation’ ReligionsSalvation’ Religions Incompetence of EmpireIncompetence of Empire Oppression of common populaceOppression of common populace Irrelevance of philosophers’ ideals and Irrelevance of philosophers’ ideals and
recommendations for livingrecommendations for living Seek help elsewhereSeek help elsewhere
Mithra, Isis, Cybele and Attis, … Christ.Mithra, Isis, Cybele and Attis, … Christ.
IntroductionIntroduction
‘‘Salvation’ ReligionsSalvation’ Religions Incompetence of EmpireIncompetence of Empire Oppression of common populaceOppression of common populace Irrelevance of philosophers’ ideals and Irrelevance of philosophers’ ideals and
recommendations for livingrecommendations for living Seek help elsewhereSeek help elsewhere
Mithra, Isis, Cybele and Attis, … Christ.Mithra, Isis, Cybele and Attis, … Christ. Constantine accepts Christianity in Empire, Constantine accepts Christianity in Empire,
313 AD313 AD
IntroductionIntroduction
Jewish EthicsJewish Ethics
IntroductionIntroduction
Jewish EthicsJewish Ethics Follow the Law!Follow the Law!
IntroductionIntroduction
Jewish EthicsJewish Ethics Follow the Law!Follow the Law!
the observance of the the observance of the
commandments is notcommandments is not
conditional on conditional on
understandingunderstanding them them
IntroductionIntroduction
Jewish EthicsJewish Ethics Follow the Law!Follow the Law!
the observance of the the observance of the
commandments is notcommandments is not
conditional on conditional on
understandingunderstanding them them Ten Commandments Ten Commandments
IntroductionIntroduction
Christian ethics is normative, and Christian ethics is normative, and the norms are set by known, fixed the norms are set by known, fixed statements of Lawstatements of Law
IntroductionIntroduction
Problem of EvilProblem of Evil
IntroductionIntroduction
Problem of EvilProblem of Evil How can there be Evil in the World?How can there be Evil in the World?
IntroductionIntroduction
Problem of EvilProblem of Evil How can there be Evil in the World?How can there be Evil in the World?
ManichaeansManichaeans – Two principles: one Good, – Two principles: one Good, one Badone Bad
IntroductionIntroduction
Problem of EvilProblem of Evil How can there be Evil in the World?How can there be Evil in the World?
Christians – Christians – God is all-powerfulGod is all-powerful
God wishes all good thingsGod wishes all good things
Therefore there are all Therefore there are all good things.good things.
But there are also Evil But there are also Evil things.things.
How?How?
IntroductionIntroduction
Problem of EvilProblem of Evil How can there be Evil in the World?How can there be Evil in the World?
Stoics – Stoics – Evil and Good can only exist Evil and Good can only exist togethertogether
Man can reason faultilyMan can reason faultily
Evils are only apparent, Evils are only apparent, not real.not real.
IntroductionIntroduction
Problem of EvilProblem of Evil How can there be Evil in the World?How can there be Evil in the World?
Stoics – Stoics – Evil and Good can only exist Evil and Good can only exist togethertogether
Man can reason faultilyMan can reason faultily
Evils are only apparent, not Evils are only apparent, not real.real.
Augustine agrees:Augustine agrees:
he saw every thing that he had made, and, he saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very goodbehold, it was very good
IntroductionIntroduction
Problem of EvilProblem of Evil Why do we do wrong?Why do we do wrong?
IntroductionIntroduction
Problem of EvilProblem of Evil Why do we do wrong?Why do we do wrong?
Original Sin Original Sin – we are naturally prone to be – we are naturally prone to be naughtynaughty
IntroductionIntroduction
Problem of EvilProblem of Evil Why do we do wrong?Why do we do wrong?
Original Sin Original Sin – we are naturally prone to be – we are naturally prone to be naughtynaughty
We have We have Free WillFree Will
IntroductionIntroduction
Problem of EvilProblem of Evil Why do we do wrong?Why do we do wrong?
Original Sin Original Sin – we are naturally prone to be – we are naturally prone to be naughtynaughty
We have We have Free WillFree Will
Augustine tells us how he enjoyed sinning: Augustine tells us how he enjoyed sinning: he once stole some pears, and didn’t even he once stole some pears, and didn’t even eat them. Why?eat them. Why?
IntroductionIntroduction
Problem of EvilProblem of Evil Why do we do wrong?Why do we do wrong?
Original Sin Original Sin – we are naturally prone to be – we are naturally prone to be naughtynaughty
We have We have Free WillFree Will
Augustine tells us how he enjoyed sinning: Augustine tells us how he enjoyed sinning: he once stole some pears, and didn’t even he once stole some pears, and didn’t even eat them. Why?eat them. Why?
Just to enjoy the freedom of theft!Just to enjoy the freedom of theft!
IntroductionIntroduction
Problem of EvilProblem of Evil Why do we do wrong?Why do we do wrong?
Original Sin Original Sin – we are naturally prone to be – we are naturally prone to be naughtynaughty
We have We have Free WillFree Will
Augustine tells us how he enjoyed sinning: he Augustine tells us how he enjoyed sinning: he once stole some pears, and didn’t even eat once stole some pears, and didn’t even eat them. Why?them. Why?
Just to enjoy the freedom of theft!Just to enjoy the freedom of theft! Discipline the Will! Want what is right!Discipline the Will! Want what is right!
IntroductionIntroduction
Christians take the Will rather than Christians take the Will rather than the Act to be the principal carrier of the Act to be the principal carrier of moral value in humansmoral value in humans
The Order of LoveThe Order of Love
The Order of LoveThe Order of Love
How should the will be shaped?How should the will be shaped?
The Order of LoveThe Order of Love
How should the will be shaped?How should the will be shaped? Do what it takes to achieve Happiness – Do what it takes to achieve Happiness –
eudaimonia, beatitudo eudaimonia, beatitudo (which is not just (which is not just ‘blessedness’)‘blessedness’)
The Order of LoveThe Order of Love
How should the will be shaped?How should the will be shaped? Do what it takes to achieve Happiness – Do what it takes to achieve Happiness –
eudaimonia, beatitudo eudaimonia, beatitudo (which is not just (which is not just ‘blessedness’)‘blessedness’)
Contra most pagan philosophers, this is Contra most pagan philosophers, this is not entirely up to the individualnot entirely up to the individual
The Order of LoveThe Order of Love
Immortality is required for Immortality is required for happinesshappiness
The Order of LoveThe Order of Love
Immortality is required for Immortality is required for happinesshappiness
So accept there is a heaven to reachSo accept there is a heaven to reach
The Order of LoveThe Order of Love
Immortality is required for Immortality is required for happinesshappiness
So accept there is a heaven to reachSo accept there is a heaven to reach Act so as to reach it Act so as to reach it
The Order of LoveThe Order of Love
Immortality is required for Immortality is required for happinesshappiness
So accept there is a heaven to reachSo accept there is a heaven to reach Act so as to reach it Act so as to reach it Obey God’s (New Testament) Obey God’s (New Testament)
commandscommands
The Order of LoveThe Order of Love
Immortality is required for happinessImmortality is required for happiness So accept there is a heaven to reachSo accept there is a heaven to reach Act so as to reach it Act so as to reach it Obey God’s (New Testament) commandsObey God’s (New Testament) commands
1.1. Love God above all.Love God above all.
2.2. Love your neighbour as you love Love your neighbour as you love yourselfyourself..
The Order of LoveThe Order of Love
Immortality is required for happinessImmortality is required for happiness So accept there is a heaven to reachSo accept there is a heaven to reach Act so as to reach it Act so as to reach it Obey God’s (New Testament) commandsObey God’s (New Testament) commands
1.1. Love God above allLove God above all
2.2. Love your neighbour as you love Love your neighbour as you love yourselfyourself
Isn’t this a bit self-interested to be real Isn’t this a bit self-interested to be real love?love?
The Order of LoveThe Order of Love
Love can be justified without Love can be justified without commandscommands
The Order of LoveThe Order of Love
Love can be justified without Love can be justified without commandscommands
Happiness requires loving right thingsHappiness requires loving right thingsThe title ‘happy’ cannot, in my opinion, belong either The title ‘happy’ cannot, in my opinion, belong either to him who has not what he loves, whatever it may be, to him who has not what he loves, whatever it may be, or to him who has what he loves if it is hurtful, or to or to him who has what he loves if it is hurtful, or to him who does not love what he has, although it is him who does not love what he has, although it is good in perfectiongood in perfection
The Order of LoveThe Order of Love
Love can be justified without Love can be justified without commandscommands
Happiness requires loving right thingsHappiness requires loving right things There is a hierarchy of thingsThere is a hierarchy of things
(According to the Neo-Platonists)(According to the Neo-Platonists)
God
Angels
Humans
Horses
Insects
Rocks
Nothing
The Order of LoveThe Order of Love
Love can be justified without Love can be justified without commandscommands
Happiness requires loving right thingsHappiness requires loving right things There is a hierarchy of thingsThere is a hierarchy of things They are of declining changeabilityThey are of declining changeability
God
Angels
Humans
Horses
Insects
Rocks
Nothing
The Order of LoveThe Order of Love
Love can be justified without Love can be justified without commandscommands
Happiness requires loving right thingsHappiness requires loving right things There is a hierarchy of thingsThere is a hierarchy of things They are of declining changeabilityThey are of declining changeability Love the least changeableLove the least changeable
and most perfectand most perfect
God
Angels
Humans
Horses
Insects
Rocks
Nothing
The Order of LoveThe Order of Love
Love can be justified without Love can be justified without commandscommands
Happiness requires loving right thingsHappiness requires loving right things There is a hierarchy of thingsThere is a hierarchy of things They are of declining changeabilityThey are of declining changeability Love the least changeableLove the least changeable
and most perfectand most perfect Happiness is in Loving GodHappiness is in Loving God
God
Angels
Humans
Horses
Insects
Rocks
Nothing
The Order of LoveThe Order of Love
Love can be justified without Love can be justified without commandscommands
Happiness requires loving right thingsHappiness requires loving right things There is a hierarchy of thingsThere is a hierarchy of things They are of declining changeabilityThey are of declining changeability Love the least changeableLove the least changeable
and most perfectand most perfect Happiness is in Loving GodHappiness is in Loving God
If we find something which is both superior to man, and can If we find something which is both superior to man, and can be possessed by the man who loves it, who can doubt that in be possessed by the man who loves it, who can doubt that in seeking for happiness man should endeavour to reach thatseeking for happiness man should endeavour to reach that
The Order of LoveThe Order of Love
Love and the worth of othersLove and the worth of others
The Order of LoveThe Order of Love
Love and the worth of othersLove and the worth of others The hierarchy of things gives theirThe hierarchy of things gives their
absolute valueabsolute valueGod
Angels
Humans
Horses
Insects
Rocks
Nothing
The Order of LoveThe Order of Love
Love and the worth of othersLove and the worth of others The hierarchy of things gives theirThe hierarchy of things gives their
absolute valueabsolute value We tend to use a scale of We tend to use a scale of instrumental instrumental
values values determined by advantage to usdetermined by advantage to us
The Order of LoveThe Order of Love
Love and the worth of othersLove and the worth of others The hierarchy of things gives theirThe hierarchy of things gives their
absolute valueabsolute value We tend to use a scale of We tend to use a scale of instrumental instrumental
values values determined by advantage to usdetermined by advantage to us We are wrong to value ourselves We are wrong to value ourselves
absolutely and others instrumentallyabsolutely and others instrumentally
The Order of LoveThe Order of Love
Love and the worth of othersLove and the worth of others The hierarchy of things gives theirThe hierarchy of things gives their
absolute valueabsolute value We tend to use a scale of We tend to use a scale of instrumental instrumental
values values determined by advantage to usdetermined by advantage to us We are wrong to value ourselves We are wrong to value ourselves
absolutely and others instrumentallyabsolutely and others instrumentally Love others as ourselvesLove others as ourselves
The Order of LoveThe Order of Love
A virtuous person treats others A virtuous person treats others according to their absolute value according to their absolute value and loves God above alland loves God above all
Failure to order your love in this Failure to order your love in this way is a failure of willway is a failure of will
Law and GraceLaw and Grace
Law and GraceLaw and Grace
Any rational person can become Any rational person can become virtuousvirtuous
Law and GraceLaw and Grace
Any rational person can become Any rational person can become virtuousvirtuous
The The Lex Aeterna Lex Aeterna is the law is the law derivable by reasonderivable by reason
Law and GraceLaw and Grace
Any rational person can become Any rational person can become virtuousvirtuous
The The Lex Aeterna Lex Aeterna is the law is the law derivable by reasonderivable by reason
The assistance of God is required The assistance of God is required to understand the Lawto understand the Law
Law and GraceLaw and Grace
Any rational person can become Any rational person can become virtuousvirtuous
The The Lex Aeterna Lex Aeterna is the law is the law derivable by reasonderivable by reason
The assistance of God is required The assistance of God is required to understand the Lawto understand the Law
His assistance is His assistance is GraceGrace, a gift to , a gift to undeserving personsundeserving persons
Law and GraceLaw and Grace
Any rational person can become Any rational person can become virtuousvirtuous
The The Lex Aeterna Lex Aeterna is the law derivable is the law derivable by reasonby reason
The assistance of God is required to The assistance of God is required to understand the Lawunderstand the Law
His assistance is His assistance is GraceGrace, a gift to , a gift to undeserving personsundeserving persons
So Happiness requires GodSo Happiness requires God
PeacePeace
PeacePeace
Lex TemporalisLex Temporalis is the law Man is the law Man makes makes
PeacePeace
Lex TemporalisLex Temporalis is the law Man is the law Man makes makes
To preserve peaceTo preserve peace
PeacePeace
Lex TemporalisLex Temporalis is the law Man is the law Man makes makes
To preserve peaceTo preserve peace Peace requires justice Peace requires justice
(Justice = proper order of values)(Justice = proper order of values)
PeacePeace
Lex TemporalisLex Temporalis is the law Man is the law Man makes makes
To preserve peaceTo preserve peace Peace requires justice Peace requires justice
(Justice = proper order of values)(Justice = proper order of values) Peace can only exist in HeavenPeace can only exist in Heaven
SummarySummary
Christian additions to Western ethical Christian additions to Western ethical values:values:
sinsin, , lovelove of God and one’s fellow man, of God and one’s fellow man, humilityhumility, , kindnesskindness, , forgivenessforgiveness, , mercymercy
Christian additional emphasis on:Christian additional emphasis on: Importance of Importance of WillWill Acceptance of ultimate Acceptance of ultimate Worth of OthersWorth of Others Belief in Belief in Lawful Lawful order of thingsorder of things