Question 3. Is God to blame for the fact that man is getting worse?

A person does not become worse through the fault of a wise person. For this is not a minor sin, but, on the contrary, so great that it cannot be characteristic of any wise man. And God surpasses any wise man. Therefore the less does God make man worse, for the will of God is much more perfect than that of a wise man. And when they say that it is someone's fault, they say that it is also his will. This means that the reason that a person becomes worse is the depravity of the will. And if this depravity, as reason teaches, is certainly not in the will of God, then it should be clarified: in what is it?

Question 4. What is the reason that a person becomes worse?

The reason that a person becomes worse is either in himself, or in something else, or in nothing. If nothing, then there is no reason. Or, if nothing is understood in this way, that man is created out of nothing, or out of that which is created out of nothing, the cause will again be in himself, for nothing is something like his matter. If it is in someone else, then it must be asked, whether in God, or in a certain man, or in that which is neither God nor man. But not in God, for God is the cause of goodness. So, if in a person, then [a person becomes worse] either through violence or through persuasion. But in no way by violence, lest it be found to be stronger than God; for God created man so perfect, that if he had wished to remain the best, nothing to oppose him could have hindered him. But if we agree that a man has become corrupt through the conviction of another man, then we must again ask: He who persuades himself was corrupted by whom, for he who persuades of such a person cannot but be bad. There remains something unknown, which is neither God nor man. But even this, whatever it was, either used violence or persuaded. As for violence, we answer as above. As for persuasion, whatever it may be, we answer, that since persuasion does not compel the unwilling, the cause of his corruption goes to the will of that person himself, whether he is corrupted by someone's conviction or without any conviction.

Question 5. Can an irrational animal be blessed?

A living entity who is devoid of reason is also devoid of knowledge. And no living creature devoid of knowledge can be blessed. Thus, it is not characteristic of animals that are not involved in reason to be blessed.

Question 6. On Evil