Augustine’s Natural Law Theory in De libero arbitrio

Abstract

Recent authors have debated the continuity of Augustine’s thought in the mid-390s, as well as the continuity of On the Free Choice of the Will ( De libero arbitrio), which he completed around that time. This study contributes to the current debate surrounding De libero arbitrio by identifying one strand of thought that Augustine develops with a natural continuity throughout the dialogue, namely, his natural law theory. This article argues that, when read as a unified whole, De libero arbitrio implies a working natural law theory centered on the order of the universe and applied to man particularly through his ordered nature, with attendant rewards and punishments. The argument proceeds through the themes of order, nature, and retribution in turn, explaining each from passages in De libero arbitrio. The first of these sections also discusses some of Augustine’s other early works as important background for understanding his concept of order.