Divine Foreknowledge

Paper Summary:

This paper examines the differing role of divine foreknowledge within the philosophy of St. Augustine. First an overview on the general concept of divine foreknowledge is given in order to understand its influential role during these times. Then the paper examines its role as applied to the philosophy of St. Augustine. The writer also looks at the theory that humans have the free will to make their own decisions. The writer concludes that what makes St. Augustine's work so important and successful, in both religious and philosophical circles, is its ability to understand the conflict and the importance of reconciling these concepts in order to preserve both the sanctity of divine foreknowledge and human will.

Outline:
Introduction
Divine Foreknowledge vs. Freewill
St. Augustine
Conclusion

From the Paper:

"According to the theory of divine foreknowledge, god is omniscient and therefore holds knowledge of everything: past, present and future. In other words, divine foreknowledge is god's ability to know everything about all things. Further, since god has knowledge of everything, everything that god knows is necessarily a truth. For example, if god knows that X will go and do Y, then it is true that X will do Y, even if X has not yet done Y. Further, since it is a truth that X will do Y, it is also impossible that X will not do Y. In other words, in a pure system of divine foreknowledge, humans have no freewill. The two cannot co-exist.
"However, some theorists, including St. Augustine, have developed a non-pure system of divine foreknowledge and instead believe that although god has divine foreknowledge, he is not all knowing in a traditional sense."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Augustine. City of God. Random House Publishing Group, 2000.
• Augustine. Confessions. New York: Random House, 1998.
• Augustine. On Grace and Free Will. Kessinger Publishing Company, 2005.
• Mauren, Armand. Medieval Philosohpy: An Introduction. Pontifical Institute of Mediaval Studies, 1982.
• Pinnock, Clark. Biblical Revolations: The Foundation of Christian Theology. Chicago: Moody Press, 1971.

More papers on Divine Foreknowledge:

• Essay # 32670 : "Divine Foreknowledge: Augustine, Boethius and Thomas Aquinas"
• Analytical Essay # 112285 : "Free Will"
• Essay # 26260 : "The Philosophy of Boethius"

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