Munzer, Stephen - From Innocense to Purity of Heart-- and Back Again

10/10/2008

unpublished paper

This paper is mostly an exploration of what innocence means, how it can be lost, and then what would have to happen for it to be regained, or perhaps just surpassed. Author begins by giving 5 different accounts of innocence:

1. Lack of knowledge of evil
2. Absence of sin or moral wrongdoing
3. Lack of awareness of moral complexity
4. Lack of an experience of moral difficulty/intimate encounter with evil
5. Lack of a capacity to do harm, as of knowledge, intention or will

Author points out that 5. is not a metaphysical or logical inability to harm, but instead some sort of agency inability. This raises the possibility of 'purity of heart', meaning an intentional incapacity to do wrong.

Author discusses how the loss of the various types of innocence might occur, and then proceeds to discuss two examples, that of jealousy and ambition. Author claims it might be possible to become ambitious or jealous and then, after concerted effort and time, extinguish those intentions to regain innocence. Yet the objection to this isn't that innocence is regained but instead some higher level of moral maturity is reached. Author then discusses his replies, perhaps that the objection is too cognitive and that, intellectually-- sure-- there is a difference, but the two situations might be morally similar.

The objection, however, brings up the possibility of a morally superior state after the loss of innocence and the extinction of the evil that caused such a loss. Author mentions how baptism might play into this as a sense of renewal, though it does not return innocence. Lastly, author discusses purity of heart in the bible.