How did Augustine change the locus of control of human behavior from forces outside the person to forces inside the person?
St. Augustine (354-430 AD) was a famous writer and two of his most important literary works include “The City of God” and “The Confessions”. He was born at a time when the great Constantine had died and the almighty Roman Empire was slowly fading away.
St. Augustine changed the locus of control of human behavior from forces outside the person (city of man) to forces inside the person (city of God) by the following:
1. St. Augustine believed that the acceptance of free will makes a person responsible, that is, individuals are responsible for their actions. They could be praised or blamed due to their good or bad actions.
2. If, he argued, a person chooses evil over goodness, he may not feel guilty forever. This is because if a person discloses his sins (by confessing) even if he has done some evil, he is then forgiven and can again pursue a pure Christian life with dignity and morality.
3. His philosophy could be interpreted on his personal life and happenings. According to a book he penned called “Confessions”, he writes about all the sins he committed in his life, ranging from stealing to the sins regarding sex and pleasure. He had two mistresses apart from his lawfully wedded wife, and he was forced by his mother to abandon his mistress when he was to marry, this caused him grief and distress.