In his autobiography, Confessions, St. Augustine pioneers the concept that human will and reason dictate the morality in one’s life. As a result, mastering such elements, is the only way humans may rid their life of imperfections. Evil is not a product of intelligence or education, rather it burgeons from the various aspects of human will: perverse will, unconscious will, languid will, etc. Though free will is subject to original sin and wishful reason, throughout Confessions, Augustine demonstrates that despite all imperfections, human’s can achieve a prosperous life by completely submitting their will to God.
From his infancy all the way up until when he truly accepts Christianity, Augustine delineates various instances of gross misconduct when his free will diverged from morals, authority, or reason. He introduces this deviation immediately at his birth, boldly asserting that “For in thy sight there is none free from sin, not even the infant who has lived but a day upon this earth” (I, VII). Describing a crying baby, Augustine introduces envy as the baby’s original sin due to the constant conflict between reason and will driven by selfishness. This baby’s actions, while seemingly harmless, when extrapolated to adulthood are representative of evil and sin, all due to an unmanageable will. Throughout his childhood, Augustine confesses that he “sinned…in acting against the precepts of [his] parents and…teachers” (I, X). He neglects his schoolwork, disobeys authority, and repeatedly gets chastised all for his love to play. These attributes that Augustine displays all violate moral principles. His desire forces him to neglect any regard for moderation as he stole from his parents, cheated in games, and even lied when caught. Augustine’s early life appears to be packed with sins; however, they serve as an example to showcase how an uncontrollable will, when left unmanaged, culminates into greater sin “as [God] hast ordained: that every inordinate affection brings its own punishment” (I, XII). Clearly Augustine showed no remorse during the course of his actions, and had no preconceived notion of God. Driven by his pursuit of pleasure, he fails to submit to God within his mind and soul to the furthest extent, and is enslaved by his will rather than exercising its freedom in life.
As he grows older, Augustine describes how his actions escalated to the point where he’d even steal and feel as if “the theft itself was nothing, [and he] was all the more wretched in that [he] loved it so (II, VIII). Here Augustine introduces the idea of evil motivated by nothing else. He attempts to justify by stating it was due to peer pressure but soon submits to his love for the act of stealing. Augustine’s blatant defiance is difficult to reflect on as he later realizes sinful imperfections tarnishing his life. He realizes he has wandered too far in his youth into a wasteland (II, X). Yet he goes on for the next couple of years and commits an “immoderate use of lawful things” and “[casts] aside respect for human society” (III, VIII). Augustine, continually attempts to rationalize these actions by blaming it on his wandering youth or lack of intelligence. Not only does he utilize reason to continually abuse his will to wander past basic human necessity, but Augustine diverges from Christianity by following Manichean superstition and even astrology. He later explains this to be a “fornication” against God and turned to various reasoning to pass on the guilt of his sins (IV, II). Understanding that “false opinions contaminate life if the rational soul itself is depraved”, Augustine begins to question these ideologies vindicating humans of all blame (IV, XV). His eyes fall on Catholicism and he begins to realize the importance of human will and its submission to God.
After studying religious texts and learning of about the devil, Augustine asserts that he “was utterly certain that it was none but [himself who was] willed or was unwilling–and immediately [he] realized that there was the cause of [his] sin (VII, III). Coming to this understanding, Augustine begins to accept Christian faith and that is necessary for him to succumb to God truly have peace. Nevertheless, this understanding is not enough and as Augustine prolongs its acceptance, he reflects how “the law of sin is the tyranny of habit, by which the mind is drawn and held, even against its will” (VIII, V). He admits that this ‘habit’ was fallen into willfully, and extended his absolute conversion of faith for quite some time. As a result, Augustine constructs an extremely significant notion, the mere knowledge of God’s will and truth is not enough, one must actually practice, and obey the very will and truth they can now see.
From his experiences Augustine is able to discern various aspects surrounding an individual’s reasoning that may divert their will. He emphasizes the importance of a complete will, one that obeys the mind’s intentions and faithful reasoning. He proclaims that “this is actually an infirmity of mind, which cannot wholly rise, while pressed down by habit, even though it is supported by the truth. And so there are two wills, because one of them is not whole, and what is present in this one is lacking in the other” (VIII, IX). Augustine is able to pinpoint the wavering, half-committed will as what’s stopping him from committing fully to God. He comprehends that God demands absolute devotion and that he “carest for [everyone] as if [he] didst care for him only, and so for all as if they were but one” (III, X). If God were to spread his love to humankind as if it were one man, Augustine asserts that he’d inevitably demand the entirety of a man’s devotion. God bestows strength upon man, and the ability to navigate life with a strong will and reason. As Augustine converses with Saint Alypius, he apprehends that the “struggle raging in [his] heart was nothing but the contest of self against self” (VIII, XII). Finally accepting Christianity along with God’s will and truth, Augustine is able to finally achieve complete free will. Under God, he is able to assume the moral responsibility for each of his actions.
Augustine’s Confessions investigates the origin of human imperfection. By doing so, he is able to realize that it is he himself that is standing in the way of achieving the paramount of life. Through his work, Augustine depicts his life’s journey from investigating numerous theologies and philosophies to finding Christianity. Though he committed many sins leaving his life ridden with imperfections, he finally realized these mistakes and denounced his actions before God. Following his conversion, Augustine understands that God accepts all, and that he has the capacity to alter the course of one’s life and steer them clear of evil – humans may only self-actualize by following the will of God.