Philosophical and Theological Arguments

Argument for Divine Simplicity

1. Anything that has a metaphysical distinction between what it is and the attributes that characterize it first one way and then another is something that changes.
2. God does not change.
3. God does not have a metaphysical distinction between what it is and the attributes that characterize it first one way and then another.

Argument that Meaning is not Physical

1. All physical reality is underdetermined.
2. Meaning is not underdetermined.
3. Meaning is not physical.
4. If meaning is not physical, then meaning is not acquired through physical means.
5. Meaning is not acquired through physical means.

I.XI.18 Argument

1. No one says (nor should say) “let him be wounded worse, he is not yet cured” regarding the body.
2. The health of the body is like the health of the soul.
3. No one should say “let him be wounded worse, he is not yet cured” regarding the soul.

II.6.13 Argument

1. Every human action is motivated by some goal.
2. If every human action is motivated by some goal, then every human action should be motivated by the highest and purest expression of that goal.
3. The highest and purest expression of any goal is found in God.
4. Every human action should be motivated by God.

II.6.14 Argument

1. Any contingent instance of a perfection, F, is a participation in (imitation of) F itself.
2. Any contingent instance of goodness is a participation in (imitation of) goodness itself.
3. Any goal of human motivation that is not God is a contingent instance of goodness.
4. God is goodness itself.
5. Any goal of human motivation that is not God is a participation in (imitation of) God.

Argument in Augustine’s Reflection on his Theft of the Pears

1. If I stole the pears simply because they were beautiful and wanted them for my own individual pleasure, then I must have been captivated by how special these pears were in relation to my own pears at home and wouldn’t have accomplished the theft with others.
2. But there was nothing more captivating about these pears in relation to my own pears at home, and I did accomplish the theft with others.
3. I did not steal the pears simply because they were beautiful and wanted them for my own individual pleasure.

Manichean Objections to Christianity

1. If orthodox Christianity is true, then it would give an account of the origin of evil.
2. But Christianity does not provide an account of the origin of evil.
3. Orthodox Christianity is false.

1. If orthodox Christianity is true, then it would not describe God in anthropomorphic ways.
2. But Christianity does describe God in anthropomorphic ways.
3. Orthodox Christianity is false.

1. If orthodox Christianity is true, then it would not uphold the Old Testament patriarchs as spiritual.
2. But Christianity does uphold the Old Testament patriarchs as spiritual.
3. Orthodox Christianity is false.

Be able to answer how Augustine responds to each of these arguments.

III.8.16 Argument

1. If flagitia and facinora ultimately effect God, then God suffers corruption and harm.
2. If God suffers corruption and harm, then God is mutable.
3. But God is immutable.
4. Flagitia and facinora do not ultimately effect God.
5. If flagitia and facinora do not ultimately effect God, then such sins are an offense to God for corrupting and harming the natures God has created and set in order.
6. Flagitia and facinora are an offense to God for corrupting and harming the natures God has created and set in order.