2. What is the argument Augustine is making regarding the "moralities of countries and times" and "the most righteous law of almighty God"? What proofs does he use to support his claim? How convinced are you by his argumentation?
In section 13 of the third book, Augustine's begins to compare the nature of God's law with the human-written laws of nations. For Augustine, the main difference between the two is their flexibility and universality. Augustine notes that God's law "has remained unchanged everywhere and always" and that it is "not one thing in one place and something different elsewhere". God's law for the Jews and then for the Church has always been the same, no matter when or where. While there are aspects of universality among human law (e.g. murder, stealing, etc... are wrong) it is not wholly universal and accounts for the beginning of many human arguments. He compares the world's nations as a knight trying to fit armour to the appropriate appendages. This knight spends his time finding the correct placement of each piece of armour and what its purpose is rather than using it (correctly). Humans make righteousness seems as if it can be constantly sculpted to an ideal image, but in fact, God has already designed the perfect statue, all we must do is replicate it. I agree with Augustine as far as how flimsy human morality is, but I would give humanity a little more credit for having a reflection of universality. Even though we are corrupted by sin, I believe there is a degree of righteousness we innately know of.
In section 13 of the third book, Augustine's begins to compare the nature of God's law with the human-written laws of nations. For Augustine, the main difference between the two is their flexibility and universality. Augustine notes that God's law "has remained unchanged everywhere and always" and that it is "not one thing in one place and something different elsewhere". God's law for the Jews and then for the Church has always been the same, no matter when or where. While there are aspects of universality among human law (e.g. murder, stealing, etc... are wrong) it is not wholly universal and accounts for the beginning of many human arguments. He compares the world's nations as a knight trying to fit armour to the appropriate appendages. This knight spends his time finding the correct placement of each piece of armour and what its purpose is rather than using it (correctly). Humans make righteousness seems as if it can be constantly sculpted to an ideal image, but in fact, God has already designed the perfect statue, all we must do is replicate it. I agree with Augustine as far as how flimsy human morality is, but I would give humanity a little more credit for having a reflection of universality. Even though we are corrupted by sin, I believe there is a degree of righteousness we innately know of.
A very good attempt to tackle a very difficult question, here Luke. I think Augustine uses the armour image to explain the "limited experience" of those who judge the old testament figures guilty by employing "some human day of reckoning." They do not see that while different pieces of armor are designed for different limbs, each piece bears witness to the whole and are intimately and fully related to the whole. Those who judge the old testament figures guilty are incapable of seeing the whole, and the way in which the whole fits together. Augustine's argument is that "the epochs over which she (justice) rules do not all unfold in the same way, precisely because times change."
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