Advanced Placement (AP) European History Practice Exam

In Isotta's view, why should Eve be seen as sinning less than Adam?

1. She had less intellect and dedication

2. She was not explicitly commanded by God

3. She was born from Adam, who was created first

4. She acted out of ignorance of God's will

The correct answer is: She had less intellect and dedication

In the context of Isotta's argument regarding Eve and Adam, the reasoning behind the idea that Eve should be seen as sinning less focuses primarily on her lack of direct knowledge and command from God. The belief that Eve was not explicitly commanded by God supports the notion that her transgression was less severe because she did not fully understand the implications of her actions — she was not given the same level of instruction that Adam received. This perspective highlights that without a direct command, Eve's choice to eat from the Tree of Knowledge might be framed as less a product of disobedience and more a result of being misled or uninformed. She did not have the same responsibilities or understanding as Adam since she was created after him, and thus her ignorance could contribute to a lesser degree of culpability for the sin. This emphasizes the argument about the differences in knowledge and responsibility that existed between the two figures. The other options do not align with Isotta's argument in a significant way. The assertion that Eve had less intellect (the first option) reduces the complexity of her actions to a simple measure of intelligence, which does not capture the context of divine command and moral responsibility central to the argument. The third option, regarding Eve being created from Adam