The Primal Spark: Desire as the Cause of Sin

A Summary of the Human Predicament

From the earliest philosophical inquiries to the profound theological treatises of the Christian era, a recurring theme emerges: desire, in its unchecked or misdirected form, often stands as the fundamental cause of sin. This article explores how the great thinkers of the Western tradition—Plato, Aristotle, Augustine, and Aquinas among them—grappled with the inherent tension between human appetites and the dictates of reason and divine law. They reveal that while desire itself is a natural aspect of our being, it is its disordered pursuit, untempered by the will and right judgment, that leads humanity astray, resulting in moral transgression and spiritual downfall.

The Appetitive Soul: Ancient Insights into Desire's Power

The notion that our inner longings can lead us to err is not a modern invention but a foundational insight of classical philosophy. The Great Books of the Western World offer profound explorations into the human psyche, laying the groundwork for understanding the origin of moral failings.

Plato's Tripartite Soul and the Charioteer's Challenge

Plato, in his seminal work The Republic, introduces the concept of the tripartite soul, comprising:

  • Reason (λογιστικόν): The intellect, which seeks truth and wisdom.
  • Spirit (θυμοειδές): The emotional part, associated with honor, courage, and indignation.
  • Appetite (ἐπιθυμητικόν): The part driven by basic bodily desires—hunger, thirst, sexual urges, and the desire for material gain.

Plato famously likens the soul to a charioteer (reason) guiding two winged horses: one noble (spirit) and one unruly (appetite). Sin, or rather moral error and injustice, occurs when the appetitive horse, driven by its powerful desires, breaks free from the charioteer's reins. It is the failure of reason to govern these lower desires, allowing them to dictate action, that causes individuals to pursue perceived goods that are ultimately harmful or unjust. The will to control, guided by wisdom, is paramount.

Aristotle and the Challenge of Akrasia

Aristotle, in his Nicomachean Ethics, delves into the nature of human action and moral responsibility, offering a nuanced perspective on how desire contributes to sin (or vice in his ethical framework). He distinguishes between virtue and vice, and crucially, between continence and incontinence (akrasia).

  • Continence: A person who has strong desires but, through the power of will and reason, manages to act virtuously.
  • Incontinence (Akrasia): A person who knows what is right but whose powerful desires (for pleasure, wealth, etc.) overpower their rational judgment, leading them to act against their better knowledge.

For Aristotle, the incontinent person's failure is not a lack of knowledge of the good, but a failure of the will to resist the immediate pull of desire. Here, desire is a direct cause of deviation from the path of virtue, even when reason points in the correct direction.

The Theological Turn: Augustine on Concupiscence and the Fallen Will

With the advent of Christian theology, the concept of sin takes on a profound, often existential, dimension. St. Augustine of Hippo, a pivotal figure in the Great Books tradition, fundamentally reshaped Western thought on desire, will, and the origin of sin.

The Original Sin and Disordered Desire

In his Confessions and City of God, Augustine posits that humanity's fall from grace—the Original Sin—was a direct result of a disordered desire. Adam and Eve, tempted by the desire for forbidden knowledge and autonomy, allowed their will to turn away from God's command. This act, driven by a prideful desire, corrupted human nature, introducing what Augustine termed concupiscence.

  • Concupiscence: Not merely sexual lust, but a broader concept of disordered desire that pulls the human will towards earthly, fleeting goods rather than the ultimate good of God. It represents the inherent inclination to sin, a persistent struggle within the fallen human heart.

For Augustine, desire is not just a cause of sin; disordered desire is the very essence of sin in its initial manifestation and its ongoing perpetuation. The will, once free to choose good effortlessly, now finds itself enslaved by these unruly desires, needing divine grace for liberation.

Scholastic Refinements: Aquinas on Passions, Will, and Moral Choice

St. Thomas Aquinas, building upon Aristotle and Augustine in his Summa Theologica, provides a systematic account of human action, desire, and sin. He meticulously analyzes the interplay between intellect, will, and the passions (which include desires).

The Intellect, Will, and the Object of Desire

Aquinas distinguishes between natural appetites (e.g., for food, self-preservation) which are good in themselves, and the specific passions or desires that arise when the intellect apprehends a particular good.

  1. Intellect: Presents an object as good (e.g., a delicious meal, a valuable possession).
  2. Will: The rational appetite, which is drawn to this perceived good.
  3. Passions/Desires: Bodily or emotional responses that intensify the pull towards the object.

Sin, for Aquinas, occurs when the will, influenced by intense desire and potentially faulty intellectual judgment, chooses a particular, finite good over the ultimate, true good, or pursues a good in a disordered manner (e.g., gluttony, avarice). The will remains free, but it can be powerfully swayed by the intensity of desire, especially when reason fails to properly evaluate the object or the means of attaining it. Thus, desire acts as a powerful cause or instigator, but the final choice rests with the will.

The Interplay of Desire, Will, and Reason in the Genesis of Sin

To summarize the intricate relationship between these faculties as presented in the Great Books, we can observe a consistent pattern:

Philosophical Perspective Role of Desire Role of Will Role of Reason How Sin Arises
Plato Unruly horse; seeks bodily/material gratification Charioteer's control over desires Charioteer; guides the will to the good Appetitive desires overpower reason and will, leading to imbalance.
Aristotle Powerful pull towards perceived goods/pleasure Can be weak (in akrasia) or strong (continence) Knows the good but can be overridden by desire Desire overpowers rational judgment despite knowing the right course of action.
Augustine Concupiscence; disordered longing for earthly goods Fallen, enslaved by concupiscence; needs grace Dimmed by the Fall; struggles against disordered desire Initial act of turning away from God, leading to perpetual disordered desire and a weakened will.
Aquinas Passions; powerful inclinations towards perceived goods Free to choose, but influenced by desire and intellect Apprehends goods; should guide the will and moderate desires Will chooses a lesser good, or a good in a disordered way, under the influence of strong desire.

Conclusion: Desire as a Perennial Challenge to Virtue

The philosophical and theological tradition, as preserved within the Great Books of the Western World, consistently identifies desire as a primary, if not the ultimate, cause of sin. From Plato's charioteer struggling with unruly appetites to Augustine's concept of concupiscence and Aquinas's detailed analysis of the will's assent to disordered goods, the narrative remains clear: human beings are constantly challenged by their inner longings. While desire itself is a neutral force, inherent to life, it is its misdirection or excess, when not properly governed by reason and a strong, rightly-ordered will, that leads to moral transgression. The perennial task of humanity, therefore, is to cultivate the wisdom and strength of will necessary to harmonize desire with the pursuit of the true good.

(Image: A classical painting depicting the allegory of the Chariot from Plato's Phaedrus, with a charioteer (reason) struggling to control two horses—one white and noble (spirit), the other black and unruly (appetite)—as they pull the chariot across a challenging landscape.)

Video by: The School of Life

💡 Want different videos? Search YouTube for: ""Plato's Republic Tripartite Soul Explained""

Video by: The School of Life

💡 Want different videos? Search YouTube for: ""Augustine on Sin and Concupiscence""

Share this post