Final answer:
Augustine's arguments in Confessions Book 10 Chs 37-38 discuss the reconciliation of free will with divine foreknowledge, the nature of human agency, and the question of evil, asserting that all creation is inherently good and that divine grace is necessary for choosing good over sin.
Step-by-step explanation:
The main arguments in Augustine's Confessions Book 10 Chapters 37-38 revolve around the concepts of free will, divine grace, and the nature of evil. Augustine counters the strict determinism of the Manicheans by advocating for human freedom to choose the good despite the original sin. He discusses the internal conflict within humans between the will that seeks the good and the will that desires sinfulness, emphasizing that only divine grace can resolve this conflict and lead humans toward choosing the good.
Moreover, Augustine defends theological orthodoxy against heresies such as Pelagianism, which claims humans can achieve salvation without divine grace, and Manicheanism, which views the universe as a battleground between equally powerful forces of good and evil. Augustine asserts that all of God's creation is good and that evil, as perceived by humans, is part of a divine providential plan, including Satan's rebellion.
In essence, Augustine's arguments in these chapters of the Confessions address the delicate balance between God's omniscience, human agency, and the presence of evil in the world. These ideas not only shaped Christian doctrine but continue to raise questions and influence philosophical thought in present times.