Optatums

Optatums refers to a concept within the philosophy of Saint Augustine of Hippo. In his theological writings, particularly those concerning predestination and divine grace, Augustine distinguishes between two types of human will. The term optatum is Latin for "desired" or "wished for." Augustine uses "optatum" to describe the will as it pertains to what a person desires or wishes to do. He contrasts this with the will as it pertains to what a person can actually accomplish or achieve. This distinction is crucial for understanding Augustine's argument that human beings, due to original sin, have a will that is enslaved and incapable of choosing good on its own without the intervention of God's grace. Therefore, even the good desires that an individual might have are, in Augustine's view, ultimately enabled by God's prior action. The optatum, or the desired act, is thus seen as something that the will yearns for, but its actualization and its alignment with divine will depend entirely on God's salvific work.