WJEC/Eduqas RS for A2/Yr2: Religion and Ethics (DRAFT)

T4 Determinism and free will

beings have an ‘essential human nature’ which is liberium arbitrium. Liberium arbitrium is a Latin phrase that means a human being has the power of making choices that are free from predestination. However, Augustine then argues that concupiscene acts as secondary nature which overrides a human being’s essential human nature of liberium arbitrium. Therefore, it could be argued that Augustine is actually putting forward a soft determinist argument not a predestination argument. This is because a human being has two natures, one of which is free willed. Therefore, Augustine’s Doctrine of Original Sin could be seen to support that free will could be reconciled with beliefs about predestination. However, it could be argued that the above is an absurd argument. This is because if a human being’s secondary nature of sin always overrides their essential human nature of free will, then human beings have no free will at all. Moreover, Calvin concedes that even the ‘Elect’ could still be sinful but God pre-destines them to have faith in Jesus Christ. Therefore, when they sin they cannot resist the calling on their lives to seek forgiveness. However, the point still remains that the elect appear to have enough free will to choose to do sinful acts; despite the fact that they will be predestined to ask for forgiveness. Therefore, it could be argued that Calvin is actually presenting a soft determinist theory not a predestination theory. Therefore, Calvin’s Doctrine of Election could be seen to support that free will could be reconciled with beliefs about predestination. Furthermore, Arminius in his free will theory concedes that human beings do inherit original sin from Adam and Eve. As Arminius argues: ‘In this [fallen] state, the free will of man towards the true good is wounded, infirm, bent, and weakened.’ Therefore, like Calvin, Arminius believed that if left in this state a human being’s natural predetermined impulse would be to sin. However, Arminius argues, God balances this impulse to sin with the work of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit encourages al human beings to do good works, by acting as a God-given guide to morality. Therefore, all human beings have free will to decide whether to follow the will of the God’s Holy Spirit or give in to their pre-determined natural inclination to sin. Therefore, Arminius theory can also be interpreted as a soft determinist approach, i.e. human beings have a predestined impulse to sin but have the free will to accept the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, Arminius’ theory could be seen to support that free will could be reconciled with beliefs about predestination.

DRAFT

AO2 Activity As you read through this section try to do the following: 1. Pick out the different lines of argument that are presented in the text and identify any evidence given in support. 2. For each line of argument try to evaluate whether or not you think this is strong or weak. 3. Think of any questions you may wish to raise in response to the arguments. This Activity will help you to start thinking critically about what you read and help you to evaluate the effectiveness of different arguments and from this develop your own observations, opinions and points of view that will help with any conclusions that you make in your answers to the AO2 questions that arise.

Determinism

Free will

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