Augustine, City of God bk 5 | Divine Foreknowledge and Human Free Will | Philosophy Core Concepts

This is a video in my new Core Concepts series -- designed to provide students and lifelong learners a brief discussion focused on one main concept from a classic philosophical text and thinker.

This Core Concept video focuses on Augustine's work, The City of God, and specifically on his discussion in book 5 bearing on the seeming incompatibility between divine foreknowledge of future actions and choices and the existence of human free will. After considering the positions of the Stoics and Cicero, he sets out a Christian perspective that provides some explanation for how both divine foreknowledge and human free will can be compatible.

My videos are used by students, lifelong learners, other professors, and professionals to learn more about topics, texts, and thinkers in philosophy, religious studies, literature, social-political theory, critical thinking, and communications. These include college and university classes, British A-levels preparation, and Indian civil service (IAS) examination preparation

(Amazon links are associate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases)

My videos are used by students, lifelong learners, other professors, and professionals to learn more about topics, texts, and thinkers in philosophy, religious studies, literature, social-political theory, critical thinking, and communications. These include college and university classes, British A-levels preparation, and Indian civil service (IAS) examination preparation

(Amazon links are associate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases)

#Augustine #Confessions #Medieval

[powerthrobbing]

Just started reading City of God this week per your top 10 favorite texts list. My goal is to read all 10 by July. So far I’ve read 3. Thanks for the inspiration and analysis! Big fan.

[zainabamiri]

Hi there
It was great!
Thank you so much

[massacreee]

Damn! Augustine really did use that sweet noggin of his. No wonder he still has influence.

[marykochan]

Would it be possible to create a playlist on YouTube of all of your city of God lectures in order?

[cazazzadan]

I have been reading over this chapter (in a different translation) since watching the video. I didn't then and still don't now see what the difference is between not having free will and having predetermined will. And if my will is not predetermined, how does God have infallible foreknowledge of it? Furthermore, Augustine says that my will is in the order of causes which begins with the will of God Himself, and that God willed my will to be free, but He already knows what I will will, because He has willed that I will what I will. The only difference between this and no free will is a semantic one.

Am I reading this too simplistically, or even misreading it?

[shift]

So according to Cicero, did God plan for bad things to happen? According to Augustine did God plan for bad things to happen? I would like your answers and understanding please.