Literature and History cover image

Episode 101: Against the Pagans (Augustine's City of God, Part 1 of 2)

Literature and History

00:00

The Origins of Christian Free Will

Augustine: God knows the rules of physics, but we are free to play our own pinball machines. He says Stoics had placed too small an emphasis on individual freedom of will; Cicero put too much emphasis on predestination. To Augustine, infinitesimal bubbles of moral decision that we get to make mean both individual choice and divine determinism were equally real and valid.

Transcript
Play full episode

The AI-powered Podcast Player

Save insights by tapping your headphones, chat with episodes, discover the best highlights - and more!
App store bannerPlay store banner
Get the app