Ethics of Compassion according to Augustine

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 PhD Student, Department of Religions and Mysticism, Central Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran,

2 Associate Professor, Department of Religions and Mysticism, Central Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.

3 Assistant Professor, Department of Religions and Mysticism, Central Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran,

Abstract

The ethics of compassion is one of the branches of ethics that are discussed by some ethicists. It is one of the types of maximum morality and includes some categories, such as justice achieved in civil society, benevolence, whose highest degree known as agape is God's love for man, and love that according to Augustine is dedicated to God. Augustine is one of the few ethicists in the Christian religious tradition, who has discussed this type of morality and is aware of its importance. This study showed that although the word "compassion" does not appear explicitly in his works, he uses its concept with considerable frequency. Augustine considers love and faith to be the basic components of compassion and believes that only through them can compassion be given to God's creatures. Love for God is manifested in loving the people, and faith can create the desire for good. Although the true existence of love in God is possible, as for creatures, it is manifested in the form of the ethics of compassion. In addition, the ethics of compassion can be seen in Augustine's works in man's quadruple relationship with God, himself, others, and the world.

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References

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Religious Research
Volume 10, Issue 19
July 2022
Pages 102-122

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