Santo Agostinho e a Ação Moral: O Papel do Mal e do Livre-Arbítrio

Abstract

This work has as purpose to realize a monographic study about Saint Augustine’s view on the moral action, investigating the role of evil and free will in his philosophy. The study is based on the works of Augustine and on other relevant academic sources. The main works of Augustine related to the moral action, the evil, and the free-will are analyzed in the bibliographic review; studies of other philosophers and scholars that approach his thought will also be analyzed. The adopted methodology is of a bibliographic nature, utilizing primary and secondary sources; the research was made in libraries, academic data bases, and reliable online resources. From the analysis and the interpretation of the texts, the main concepts, arguments, and thesis of Augustine, about the role of evil and free-will on the moral action are identified. The contributions of the author to the understanding of these themes are highlighted, considering the ethical and philosophical implication of his ideas. The discussion and the conclusions presented sum up the main insights obtained, showing the influence of evil and the importance of free will on the pursuit of virtue and redemption. Therefore, this monographic study about Saint Augustine and the moral action aims at further analyzing the role of evil and the free will on the philosophy of the author, contributing to a better understanding of his ethical and philosophical approach. The conclusions presented provides a synthesis of the main findings and reflections obtained throughout the research.