Augustine's Theory Of Free Will "in The Origin Of Evil

The issue of good and evil is vital to socialdevelopment of human beings, and the source of evilhas been instantly explored by philosophers. In thecurrent of thought history, Christian philosophymakes crucial contribution to the issue of good andevil. Aureliu Augustine, the Latin Father in theecclesiastical early time, inherited the traditionof the Ancient Greek philosophy, absorbed theessence of Neo-Platonism, made profound analysis ofthe Original Sin and the Salvation, and expressedhis own opinions of the originality of evil.At the time of Aureliu Augustine being, whenChristianity were thriving and prospered initially,there was a question puzzling Augustine and otherChristians: Is God the author of evil? Provided Godwas omniscient, evil would be one content offoreknown by him. Is it a contradiction to God’sgood if God knows and allows evil being? Is it achallenge to God’s omnipotence if God does notexpel evil from the world? Evil poses a threat tothe God’s omniscience, omnipotence and good inOrthodox doctrines.Faced these suspicions, Augustine claimed thatevil was the lack and the deviation of good rather than the existence. One did something evil due tohis free choice of will. Obviously, the free willis originated from the God, but it is not God’spurpose to encourage human beings to do somethingevil while God makes them survived a normal life.Consequently, God is not the author of evil. Thereal evil is that human beings ignored eternalthings, and have been away from holy things ofexistential being, however pursue secular things,and turn towards something various and indefinite.The authority of determination belongs persons. Itwas appropriate for God’s grant of free will tohuman beings. Human beings’ choice of good or evilby free will was under the order of being created.Holy justice was shown in the grace to good and thepunishment to evil. Consequently, God’s justice isalso reflected in that way at the end of world.This dissertation makes a profound explorationby On The Free Choice Will by Augustine throughanalyzing the question and impact of Greekphilosophy, especially the Neo-Platonism, andexplaining background of Augustine in the periods.Specifically, the debates between Augustine and theheterodoxy such as Manichean, Pelagian etc. It willhelp us to understand Augustine’s opinions of thetheory on free choice of will. The Predestinationand Salvation in theology are understood as the free choice of God and liberty of human beings. Augustinepaved a way for the belief in Christianity by usingrational cogitation, found a perfect balancebetween belief and reason, and made a greatcontribution to the development both philosophyand theology.