To Florus 5.43
For what is evil, that is, sin? The will to pursue what justice forbids and from which one is free to abstain. What is will itself? A movement of the mind under no compulsion. If sin therefore arose from will, and will from a movement of the mind under no compulsion, neither the condition of nothing nor that of darkness caused this movement to exist. It is compelled by no one precisely so that it can exist under no compulsion. Consequently, there is no natural sin and no original sin. These two names indicate one thing: sin that is not voluntary. But truth has ruled that sin cannot exist unless voluntary. Therefore whoever calls evil what is admittedly innate does not prove that sin exists in nature; he shows himself guilty through a perverse judgment. Here is the answer to what you thought could not be answered. The question you regard as invincible was altogether clever foolishness.
Latin
Quid est enim malum, id est, peccatum? Voluntas sequendi quod iustitia vetat, et unde liberum est abstinere. Quid est ipsa voluntas? Motus animi, cogente nullo. Si ergo peccatum ex voluntate natum est, voluntas ex motu animi cogente nullo; nec nihili, nec tenebrarum conditio fecit ut esset hic motus, qui ideo a nullo cogitur, ut possit esse cogente nullo. Ac per hoc nullum est naturale, nullum originale peccatum: quia haec duo nomina unum indicant, id est, peccatum esse non voluntarium; praescripsit autem veritas, nisi voluntarium non posse esse peccatum; et ideo qui dicit malum esse quod constat ingenitum, non convincit in natura esse peccatum; sed se ostendit per pravitatem iudicii criminosum. Ecce responsum est, ad quod tu responderi non posse credebas. Oxymora prorsus fuit quaestio, quam tu arbitraris invictam.
About this text
Julian’s six preserved books to Florus, quoted section by section in Augustine’s unfinished reply. Augustine’s refutations are omitted. Latin of Julian’s words is on each section.
Julian’s own books do not survive as a separate manuscript. English follows his words as Augustine quotes them in the Unfinished Work Against Julian. Augustine’s replies are omitted. We do not restore a Julian text independent of Augustine.
Witnesses
- Copy-text Augustine, Unfinished Work Against Julian (Latin · Julian’s words as quoted, Books 1–6)
- Checked print Augustinus.it Latin of the Unfinished Work (Latin · Same work)
- Checked print Migne PL 45 (Latin · Hard cases)
This is an AI-assisted study translation. Source fidelity and completeness have not been independently certified. Open Latin on each section (or the Latin source witness link) for the source text. This is not a complete critical edition.