Who Is Augustine What Motivates Good Masters
1) According to Augustine, what motivates good masters to rule over their families and slaves? How does this contrast to Aristotle’s conception of masters.
1. Aristotle argues that masters rule over their slave in tyranny due to their belief that some individuals are born as slaves, and are inherently slaves by nature. For these slaves, their identity as slaves is dependent upon their very nature, rather than their social position or location (page 1991, line 33, and page 1990 line 5). Aristotle argues that these masters are justified in enslaving slaves, due to slaves’ natural identity. Masters, in his view would be motivated due to their understanding that slaves are inherently inferior. Augustine, on the other hand, says servitude is first …show more content…
In this, he implies that slaves are human. In his incorporation of theology, Augustine points to a heavenly home to which all of humanity is progressing. In this heavenly home, Augustine remarks that the need for man to maintain civic order, including the slave system, will no longer exist (page 944 line 21-22). The identity of slave, is not a part of an individual’s nature (page 944 line 14). Augustine contends that God did not create any man to be a slave due to his nature, yet the institution of slavery exists due to the existence of sin (page 943, line 30). Slavery is a system due to the need for order, which falls heavily upon the master’s obedience to fulfill his role (page 944 line 25-26). For Augustine, the peace of all things lies in the tranquility of order, and the entirety of a master’s household must be intentionally ordered to ensure that this peace presides (page 938 line 17-19). In this view, the master commands the slave out of “dutiful concern” for an equal member of his household ( page 942, line 5-7). In Augustine’s view, good masters rule over their families and slaves in humility (page 943, line 28). A good master is motivated by God to care for his household, which occurs through the implementation of order in his household, resulting in peace (page 942, line 1-5). This order is executed through
1. Aristotle argues that masters rule over their slave in tyranny due to their belief that some individuals are born as slaves, and are inherently slaves by nature. For these slaves, their identity as slaves is dependent upon their very nature, rather than their social position or location (page 1991, line 33, and page 1990 line 5). Aristotle argues that these masters are justified in enslaving slaves, due to slaves’ natural identity. Masters, in his view would be motivated due to their understanding that slaves are inherently inferior. Augustine, on the other hand, says servitude is first …show more content…
In this, he implies that slaves are human. In his incorporation of theology, Augustine points to a heavenly home to which all of humanity is progressing. In this heavenly home, Augustine remarks that the need for man to maintain civic order, including the slave system, will no longer exist (page 944 line 21-22). The identity of slave, is not a part of an individual’s nature (page 944 line 14). Augustine contends that God did not create any man to be a slave due to his nature, yet the institution of slavery exists due to the existence of sin (page 943, line 30). Slavery is a system due to the need for order, which falls heavily upon the master’s obedience to fulfill his role (page 944 line 25-26). For Augustine, the peace of all things lies in the tranquility of order, and the entirety of a master’s household must be intentionally ordered to ensure that this peace presides (page 938 line 17-19). In this view, the master commands the slave out of “dutiful concern” for an equal member of his household ( page 942, line 5-7). In Augustine’s view, good masters rule over their families and slaves in humility (page 943, line 28). A good master is motivated by God to care for his household, which occurs through the implementation of order in his household, resulting in peace (page 942, line 1-5). This order is executed through