The Crooked Timber: Unraveling the Cause of Sin and Moral Error
The question of why we err, why we knowingly choose the path less noble, is one that has plagued philosophers and theologians for millennia. It touches the very core of what it means to be human, to possess agency, and to grapple with moral responsibility. This article delves into the perennial philosophical inquiry concerning the cause of sin and moral error, arguing that its root often lies not in mere ignorance, but in the perplexing inclinations of the will and a consequent failure of duty.
The Enduring Mystery of Moral Deviation
From the ancient Greeks to the Enlightenment and beyond, thinkers have wrestled with the observation that humanity, despite its capacity for reason and understanding, frequently falls short of its own moral ideals. Why do we act against our better judgment? Why do societies permit injustices? The answer is complex, but a deep dive into the philosophical tradition, particularly through the lens of the Great Books of the Western World, reveals a consistent, albeit nuanced, focus on the internal mechanisms of human choice.
Defining Sin and Moral Error: A Philosophical Lens
Before we can identify the cause, we must first understand what we mean by "sin" and "moral error." Philosophically, these terms often denote a deviation from the good, a transgression against a moral law, or a failure to achieve one's full rational or virtuous potential. It's not merely a mistake in calculation, but a fault in action or intention.
- Sin as Privation: As figures like Augustine articulated, sin is often understood not as a positive creation of evil, but as a privation – a lack of good, a turning away from being towards non-being. It is the absence of what should be there, like darkness is the absence of light.
- Moral Error as Deviation from Reason: For many rationalist philosophers, moral error arises when our actions diverge from the dictates of right reason. If reason points to a certain course of action as good, and we choose another, that is an error.
The fundamental query then becomes: What compels this deviation?
Ignorance vs. The Wayward Will: Pinpointing the Cause
One of the earliest and most influential theories regarding the cause of wrongdoing came from Socrates, who famously argued that "no one does evil willingly." For Socrates, all wrongdoing stemmed from ignorance; if a person truly knew what was good, they would inevitably pursue it. Vice, therefore, was simply a lack of knowledge.
However, subsequent philosophical traditions, while acknowledging the role of ignorance, introduced a more profound and troubling culprit: the will.
The Primacy of the Will
The concept of the will as the primary cause of sin and moral error gained significant traction with figures like Augustine and Aquinas. They posited that even when we know what is good, our will can choose otherwise.
- Augustine's Free Choice: For Augustine, the cause of sin is precisely the free choice of the will (liberum arbitrium). It is the will's perverse turning away from the immutable good (God) towards mutable, lesser goods. This isn't ignorance, but a misdirection of love, a preference for the lower over the higher. The will, in its freedom, has the power to assent or dissent, to choose wisely or foolishly, even when presented with truth.
- Aquinas and the Imperfect Appetites: Thomas Aquinas, building on Aristotle, also emphasized the will. While intellect presents options, it is the will that makes the final choice. Sin occurs when the will, influenced by disordered passions or an attachment to a sensible good, chooses something contrary to right reason and the ultimate good. The cause is the will's failure to follow the intellect's judgment, often swayed by concupiscence or other appetites.
(Image: A detailed classical oil painting depicting a person standing at a crossroads, one path clearly illuminated and straight, the other winding, shadowed, and alluringly dark, symbolizing the choice between virtue and vice, with an expression of contemplation or internal struggle on their face.)
The Role of Duty and Its Transgression
The concept of duty becomes paramount when we consider the will's role in moral error. If we have a duty to act in accordance with reason, moral law, or divine command, then sin is fundamentally a transgression of that duty.
- Kant's Categorical Imperative: Immanuel Kant placed duty at the center of his moral philosophy. For Kant, moral action is that which is done from duty, out of respect for the moral law itself, not from inclination or expected outcome. Sin, in this framework, is a failure to act according to the categorical imperative, a choice to elevate one's own desires or maxims above the universal moral law. The cause is a failure of the will to commit to its rational duty.
This table illustrates the shift in understanding the cause of moral error:
| Philosopher/Tradition | Primary Cause of Sin/Error | Key Mechanism | Relationship to Will |
|---|---|---|---|
| Socrates | Ignorance of the Good | Lack of Knowledge | Will always follows perceived good. |
| Augustine | Perverse Will | Free Choice, Misdirected Love | Will freely chooses lesser good over higher good. |
| Aquinas | Disordered Will | Will swayed by passions/appetites | Will fails to follow intellect's judgment. |
| Kant | Failure of Will to Uphold Duty | Choosing against Moral Law | Will fails to act out of respect for duty. |
The Allure of Lesser Goods and the Struggle of Self
Why does the will go astray? It is often lured by the immediate gratification of a lesser good, even when the intellect recognizes a greater, more enduring good. This internal struggle is a recurring theme. We will to do good, but find ourselves doing what we ought not. This is not simply a matter of not knowing better, but of actively choosing against that better knowledge.
This internal conflict highlights the complexity of moral agency. The cause of sin is not merely an external temptation, but an internal susceptibility, a freedom of the will that can choose to succumb, thereby failing its duty to reason and virtue.
Conclusion: The Enduring Weight of Will and Duty
The philosophical journey through the Great Books consistently points to the will as the ultimate cause of sin and moral error. While ignorance can play a role, it is the will's capacity for free choice, its potential to be swayed by disordered desires, and its failure to uphold its duty to reason and the moral law, that fundamentally explains human wrongdoing. This understanding places a profound responsibility on each individual, reminding us that our moral landscape is not merely observed, but actively shaped by the choices we make, moment by moment.
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