Augustine's Thought On Morality

Augustine analyzes the root of evil in an act such as adultery as consisting in "inordinate desire." Whereas "cupidity desires its object," fear drives us to avoid its object. Good and wicked people alike "desire to live without fear." But this desire motivates good people to "turn their love away from things that cannot be possessed without the fear of losing them," such as beauty, money, and earthly power. "The wicked, on the other hand, try to get rid of anything that prevents them from enjoying such things securely." It is evil to sacrifice higher goods out of cupidity for lower ones. Augustine defines "Good will" as one "by which we desire to live upright and honorable lives and to attain the highest wisdom." He regards the good will as more valuable than all earthly goods and as leading to the exercise of the four cardinal virtues of prudence.

Because of the original sin of our first ancestors, "human nature was altered for the worse," which fallen state "was transmitted also to their posterity," leaving us with two alternative ways of living our lives. These ways fall into "two cities." The earthly city, and the city of God. "the one consists of those who wish to live after the flesh, the other of those who wish to live after the spirit"; each approach pursues its own distinctive kind of peace.