Augustine and Intrinsic Moral Evils

What is it about?

Recent scholarship in the history of medieval moral theology maintains that the doctrine proscribing certain kinds of human acts as "intrinsic moral evils" does not fully emerge until the early 14th century. In order to provide an alternate historical viewpoint, I argue in this article that this moral doctrine is already present in the work of Augustine (4th-5th century). I also argue that Augustine's doctrine is mediated to the 12th and 13th centuries by Peter Lombard, and that Lombard highlights this teaching of Augustine in response to Peter Abelard.

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Why is it important?

In general, for theological orientations which value continuity with a received tradition, it is important that that tradition be accurately depicted in historical research. In this regard, the current study evaluates evidence which supports an alternative historical narrative than that which is found in other recent studies.