To What Extent is Augustine a Pessimist
About Human Nature? (40)
Human nature can be described at the observable behaviours, characteristics
and psychological traits believed to be shared by all humans. To accept that
Augustine is a Pessimist about human nature would mean that he held the
beliefs that all humans are inherently corrupt, and therefore are inclined to
sin. However, this argument concerning an orientation towards bad may be
counteracted by alternative scholars, primarily Dawkins, Sartre, Pelagius, and
Kant, who all offer differing perspectives on the topic of human nature. We
will see that Augustine’s views are best described as pessimistic due to the
overbearing focus on sin, guilt, sex, and violence, as addressed by the likes of
Dawkins.
Upon close inspection of Augustine's Prelapsarian beliefs- Augustine's beliefs
surrounding human nature prior to The Fall- it can be plausibly argued that he
is taking a somewhat optimistic approach to human nature. Augustine held
the belief that humans were made in the ‘image of God’, therefore we have
been made exactly how God intended us to be. In terms of human nature, it
can then be argued that if we were created exactly how God desired us to be,
then there is no reason for us to be anything other than inherently good.
Furthermore, Augustine recognised that God gave the command ‘Go forth and
multiply’ in Genesis 1:28. In obeying this command, Augustine concluded that
the relationship between Adam and Eve was one of friendship rather than lust,
as lust and concupiscence (a strong, often sexual desire), were only
materialised after the fall. Augustine viewed the friendship between Adam and
Eve as the highest form of relationship, as it allowed them to obey God in the
most productive and successful way. Therefore, Augustine viewed Adam
reproducing with Eve as something known as a Rational Act- acting in
accordance to reason and logic- in this context, in order to obey God and to
fulfil his wishes. In relation to human nature, this means that Augustine
believed that prior to the fall, it was within human nature to obey God, and to
follow his commands, demonstrating quite an optimistic view of human
nature.
This account of Augustine’s beliefs surrounding human nature prior to The
Fall depict him as fairly optimistic, as they all roughly align with the idea of
obeying God. However, whilst this may be seen as a strong argument due to its
strong rooting in the Bible, it is commonly rejected by the likes of Sartre and
About Human Nature? (40)
Human nature can be described at the observable behaviours, characteristics
and psychological traits believed to be shared by all humans. To accept that
Augustine is a Pessimist about human nature would mean that he held the
beliefs that all humans are inherently corrupt, and therefore are inclined to
sin. However, this argument concerning an orientation towards bad may be
counteracted by alternative scholars, primarily Dawkins, Sartre, Pelagius, and
Kant, who all offer differing perspectives on the topic of human nature. We
will see that Augustine’s views are best described as pessimistic due to the
overbearing focus on sin, guilt, sex, and violence, as addressed by the likes of
Dawkins.
Upon close inspection of Augustine's Prelapsarian beliefs- Augustine's beliefs
surrounding human nature prior to The Fall- it can be plausibly argued that he
is taking a somewhat optimistic approach to human nature. Augustine held
the belief that humans were made in the ‘image of God’, therefore we have
been made exactly how God intended us to be. In terms of human nature, it
can then be argued that if we were created exactly how God desired us to be,
then there is no reason for us to be anything other than inherently good.
Furthermore, Augustine recognised that God gave the command ‘Go forth and
multiply’ in Genesis 1:28. In obeying this command, Augustine concluded that
the relationship between Adam and Eve was one of friendship rather than lust,
as lust and concupiscence (a strong, often sexual desire), were only
materialised after the fall. Augustine viewed the friendship between Adam and
Eve as the highest form of relationship, as it allowed them to obey God in the
most productive and successful way. Therefore, Augustine viewed Adam
reproducing with Eve as something known as a Rational Act- acting in
accordance to reason and logic- in this context, in order to obey God and to
fulfil his wishes. In relation to human nature, this means that Augustine
believed that prior to the fall, it was within human nature to obey God, and to
follow his commands, demonstrating quite an optimistic view of human
nature.
This account of Augustine’s beliefs surrounding human nature prior to The
Fall depict him as fairly optimistic, as they all roughly align with the idea of
obeying God. However, whilst this may be seen as a strong argument due to its
strong rooting in the Bible, it is commonly rejected by the likes of Sartre and
