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1. IS THE SOUL SELF-EXISTENT? Everything true is true by truth, and every soul is a soul in virtue of that by which it is a true soul. Accordingly every soul is dependent upon truth for its very existence as a soul. Now the soul is one thing, truth another. For truth is never susceptible of falsehood, whereas the soul is often mistaken and deceived. Therefore, since the soul is dependent upon truth for its existence, the soul is not self-existent. But truth is God. Therefore God is the author of the soul's existence. 2. ON FREE CHOICEl Nothing which comes into being can be equal to that which brings it into being. Otherwise one necessarily does away with justice, which must render to each its due. Therefore, when God made man, although he made him very good, nevertheless he did not make him what he himself is. But that man is better who is good freely and willingly than the man who is good by necessity. Accordingly free will2 was a fitting and appropriate gift for man. 3. IS GOD RESPONSIBLE FOR HUMAN PER VERSITY? Nowise man is responsible for human perversity, because the blame for this is not small. Rather [the blame] is so great 1 libero arbitrio. 2 uoluntas Libera. However, in the following QQ. uoluntas is sometimes translated "choice." Where this happens, the occurrence is footnoted. (See my article, "St. Augustine on Freedom," Crux 12.3 (1974-75), especially pp. 19-21, for a discussion of some of the nuances of arbitrium and uoluntas.) 37 ...

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