OCR A-Level Philosophy Practice Exam

Augustine's concept of humans being born sinners is closely tied to the idea of original sin, where he posits that due to the fall of Adam and Eve, all humanity inherits a sinful nature. This concept fundamentally impacts his understanding of free will. Augustine believed that while humans possess free will, it is significantly impaired by sin. In this light, the idea of having the free will to choose goodness becomes crucial.

He argued that individuals, despite their sinful nature, still have the capacity to make moral choices. However, the grace of God is essential to enable them to choose the good over evil, emphasizing that without divine grace, the ability to choose goodness is significantly weakened. This reflects Augustine's view that while free will exists, it is not sufficient on its own to attain true goodness without divine assistance.

In contrast, divine pre-destination refers more to God's foreordination of certain individuals for salvation or damnation, rather than the active role of humans in their moral choices. Imitation of Christ focuses on following Christ's example, which does not directly address the innate condition of human sinfulness. Subconscious moral intuition suggests an innate ability to discern right and wrong, which contradicts Augustine's view that humans are deeply flawed and have a