12W4

Neither Miss Duffy nor I will be in the lesson this Wednesday (25th Feb). Please use the time constructively to plan your essays (due for next week, 4th March). If you can write an essay plan for me and leave it on Miss Duffy’s desk I will have a look over it and get it back to you with comments.

Remember to look at the guidance notes for advice.

Today we looked at the concept of evil as “privation” in Augustine’s thought: notebook presentation.

You created some ideas to process the concept and we had a diagram, a poem and turned out the lights to represent the difference between absence and lack.

Then we thought some more about the essay question and you came up with arguments for and against original sin. Some arguments for:

• Original sin sets a precedent for others to follow. It makes sense that once one person sins everyone follows them into sin too.
• Even good people and babies do wicked things. How else might you explain why this happens?
• People sin even after suffering the consequences - that is, even though we’ve learned by experience that doing the wrong thing is painful we continue to do it. Doesn’t this mean we’re wired to do the wrong thing in some way? In response to this it was argued that this aspect of humanity helps us to ask questions and find solutions.

Some arguments against original sin:

• Sin is a personal choice and we are personally responsible for it - how can this be inherited?
• Who decides what is wrong anyway? Evil is subjective (we don’t all agree on what’s right and wrong) so how can something that isn’t agree upon be inherited?
• We have free will - sin is our choice
• Evolutionary theory suggests that Adam and Eve never existed as actual human beings - doesn’t Augustine assume that they did?

Obviously there are lots of good arguments on either side here. Whichever side you argue for in your essay make sure that you refer to some of the arguments on the other side then explain why your side is better. If you ignore the other person’s arguments your case will look weak…

If you have any questions leave a comment.

The essay title is:

“Original sin is the only rational solution of the undeniable fact of the deep, universal and early manifested sinfulness of men in all ages, of every class, and in every part of the world” (Charles Hodge). Discuss

Due Wednesday 4th March. I expect the essay to be two or more sides of A4 long, if you want to do the topic justice.

Guidance:

Here are some hints on writing your essay… Charles Hodge is claiming that “Original Sin” is the only way of explaining the prevalence of sinfulness in the world. Your essay needs to respond to this: do you agree or disagree with this idea? Whether you do or not, you’ll need to explain what “original sin” is, and something of how it works. You’ll also need to think of some arguments for and against it.

If you agree then you need to explain why you agree. What makes “original sin” the best explanation for universal sinfulness? Why does it explain why human beings have that inbuilt love of doing things wrong? Other people might have different ideas about why people are so bad. You need to explain why they are wrong. Some people might say that human beings aren’t as universally bad as Augustine makes out. Why are they wrong?

If you disagree then you need to say why. Why does original sin not solve the problem? Perhaps you don’t agree that human beings are as sinful as Augustine makes out. If you think this then why do you think it? What other explanations can you give for the state of humanity? Why are your reasons better than Augustine’s?

For either of these you don’t have to answer all the questions, but you do need to be persuasive. As with all of these things there are arguments on either side - your job is to persuade me that your argument is better than the other arguments.

Suggested outline:

• Introduction: Explain in brief what your argument is. Are you going to agree or disagree? You don’t have to explain why just yet, but it helps to be clear from the start which way you are arguing…
• Original sin: Explain Augustine’s ideas about original sin. Even if you’re disagreeing with him try to give as fair an explanation as possible here. It’s no good arguing against something that isn’t a fair representation of what he is trying to say…
• Argument: Spend a few paragraphs making your case. Explain what you are saying and why. Discuss other points of view. In each paragraph try to explain why your view is better than the other possible views and link it back to what you have said you are going to do in the introduction.
• Conclusion: Tie up everything you’ve argued and explain why it means that what you said in your introduction was right. Your conclusion is not your chance to say what you think; it must relate to the rest of the essay. By all means you can say what you think, but your whole essay should reflect this. An essay is not a case of saying “some people think this”, “some people think that” and then in the conclusion ignoring “this” and “that” and saying “but I think the other”… You’re entitled to your opinion but you must back it up.

Good luck! If you have any question feel free to leave a comment (click the comments link). That way I’ll be able to respond to your question in such a way that everyone will be able see and use the information…