Augustine (354–430) handout #1 – On Free Choice of Will, Book 1

The Eternal and the Temporal Law (Book 1, sections 5–6 & 15–16, pp. 8–12 & 24–28)
Eternal law Temporal law(s)
• unchangeable [and it is valid everywhere]
• “it the law according to which it is just
that all things be perfectly ordered”
• is stamped upon our minds (1.6, p. 11)
• commands that the soul should be ruled
by reason (1.8, p. 14)
• Example: “Human life may not be endangered”
• can change [and is different in different
countries]
• determined by human beings (the people,
the magistrates etc.)
• must be derived from the eternal law,
i.e. it must be in accord with eternal law,
and in accord with reason
• must be just (p. 8)
• preserves peace & human society (p. 25)
• Example: “Speed limit = 65mph.
Life under the eternal law Life under the temporal law
• those who love eternal things (a good
will and the virtues)
• happy life
• it commands to “purify your love by
turning it away from temporal things
and toward what is eternal”
• driving force: love.
• those who love temporal things
• unhappy life
• it commands to possess temporal things
in such a way that peace and human society
are preserved: body, freedom (as
having no human masters), parents /
siblings / spouse / friends, city, property
• driving force: fear (of punishment, i. e.
taking away some temporal goods).
Good use of temporal things Bad use of temporal things
“We should not find fault with silver and
gold because of the greedy, or food because
of gluttons, or wine because of
drunkards, or womanly beauty because of
fornicators and adulterers, and so on, especially
since you know that fire can be used
to heal and bread to poison.” (1.15, p. 26)
Eternal law: perfect order of all
things. General command: “live perfectly”
(do the good, avoid evil)
Temporal law: live perfectly
by obeying the laws of your
country.
“Someone who uses them [i. e. the temporal
goods] badly clings to them and becomes
entangled with them. He serves things that
ought to serve him, fixing on goods that he
cannot even use properly because he is not
himself good.” (1.15, p. 26)