Love and Do What You Want: Augustine’s Pneumatological Love Ethics

Augustine famously summarizes all of ethics in the maxim, “Love and do what you want” his Homilies on First Epistle John, but also describes sin as misdirected love humanity characterized by sin. This raises question to how can offer such a maxim given humanity’s tendency so poorly. Aimed at ethicists theologians with only general knowledge Augustine, this paper examines Augustine’s approach its relationship theology Holy Spirit. By exploring ordo amoris, uti/frui distinction, doctrine Spirit inner-Trinitarian Love Father Son, I attempt show fit hamartiology.