Discussion Questions on Augustines Confessions - Paper Example

A) Augustine locates the in the intention of eating the Fig.

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According to the Augustine, Adam and Eve sinned against God when they had the evil will to eat the fig secretly. If they did not have the bad intention, they would not have eaten the fruit even if Satan misled them. Satan came in the form of a serpent to make them go against the rule of God. God had forbidden them from eating the fruits from the middle tree because it was the tree of knowledge2.

Augustine claims that human has freedom of will. This means that they can choose to do a good thing or a bad thing. According to Augustine, human beings are controlled by will. It may have been positive or negative impacts depending on whether the will is good or bad.

I agree with Augustine when he says that a ruined will lead to ruined actions. This is because a damaged will lead to one doing wrong and the results become damaged too. When Adam and Eve eat the fig, they had a damaged will. It leads to ruined results since God kicked them from the Garden of Eden. Adam and Eve were also cursed by God. He was told that he would be eating from his sweat. This means that he will have to work hard so that he can provide food for himself and his family. Eve was also cursed and told that she will be experiencing pain during childbirth. Their damaged will lead ruined consequences. Another example is when Augustine says that he was engaged in stealing his neighbors pears. This is a huge sin that led his to distance himself from God.

B) Sin according to Aquinas is a wrongdoing against reason, right conscience, and truth. It is the failure in genuine love for God and neighbor caused by a perverse attachment to certain goods. It wounds the nature of man and injures human solidarity. It has been defined as "an utterance, a deed, or a desire contrary to the eternal law. Sins classified according to their gravity and can be divided into venial and mortal sin.

Mortal sin is a grave sin, and it brings destruction to the s charity in the heart of man by a grave violation of God's law. It distances man from God because he prefers goods to Him. On the other hand, Venial sin permits a charity to exist, even though it wounds and offends it. One commits venial sin when, in a less serious matter, he does not observe the standard prescribed by the moral law, or when he disobeys the moral law in a grave matter, but without full knowledge or complete consent. For a motor sin to be committed there has to be complete consent and full knowledge of the sin. The sinner knows that he/she is committing a sin and he willingly goes on committing it. The sinner shows a sinful character. When one is committing a venial sin, he or she may not have a clear knowledge that it is an act against the will of God1.

Mortal sin is an intentional ignorance and leads to the removal of a grave offense. When a person commits mortal sin he aware that he is breaking the law but he ignore the law of God. When one commits venial sin, it is results of unintentional ignorance where one commit an office without knowledge.

C) Jesus was a king, and yet he humbled himself and was born from a poor background. Christians learn to have the virtue of humility so that they can emulate Jesus. Jesus helped the poor and the less fortunate in the society, for example, he healed the sick and gave and gave sight to the blind this teaches Christians to help the less fortunate in the society 2.

Jesus was incarnated so that he could die for the forgiveness of Christians sins. He was being sacrificed for their sins, and therefore we needed to have body and blood. Christians also believe that it was the will of God for Jesus incarnation. He wanted people to see how much He loves them.

Aristotle sought goodness in virtue excellence particularly moderation. He promoted characteristics of kindness, generosity, patience, & truth. Aristotle is the group that started the virtue of happiness. According to Aristotle happiness depends on individuals themselves. A happy life is the objective of every individual and a fulfillment of life 2. Aristotle then claims that since the function of a human is to exercise the soul's activities according to reason, the role of a good human is to exercise well and finely the soul's activities according to reason.

D) On goals and decisions, one is faced with difficulties in deciding whether one should engage in violence or not. Violence is against Gods will, and therefore people should refrain from committing or engaging is it. Nevertheless, there are those instances when one can engage in violence. For instance, if one is in danger he can engage in violence to defend his life.

When one is resolving the conflict, the main goal is to stop the two parties from engaging in violence. By using peaceful measures, the best method to solve all conflicts between parties. If resolving conflicts in a peaceful manner, the first thing is to realize that indeed a conflict exists between the two parties. The second thing is to is to be specific without the condoning or condemning the act. Explain to the party clearly about the reason causing conflict. Discuss how the conflict can lead to violence and therefore there is a need to resolve it. Ask the two parties how the feel about the conflict and tell them to suggest ways resolve the situation 2. Agree on one measure on resolving it that is relevant to the both parties.

E) Actual is the real amount of a product. The actual cost is the real cost of it.

The potential is just an anticipation of the future. This is just a speculation of the future cost of a product. To make more profit I choose in favor of what is over which is the potential cost. The actual cost is lower compared to the potential cost, and hence I choose the potential over the real cost.

References

Christian Ethics: An Introduction Reader Ed. Samuel Wells. West Sussex: Wiley-Blackwell 2010

2 Augustines Confessions. Augustine of Hippo Second Edition; translated by F.J. Sheed; Introduction By Peter Brown (Indianapolis :Hackett) 2006