|
 




|

‡ |  1225
‡ |
Roccasecca, Naples,
Italy
‡  March 7,1274
 ›t. Thomas Aquinas
‡ ›aint Thomas Aquinas was a Catholic Priest in
the Dominican Order
‡ One of the most important Medieval
philosophers and theologians.
‡ He wrote many works of philosophy and
theology throughout his life, his most influential
and greatest work is the ›


 
   


 which consists
of three parts.
‡ He worked on it from the time of Clement IV
(after 1265) until the end of his life.
 

 
  

!  "
#  "
 

 


  

‡ Part I treats of God, who is the ³first cause,
himself uncausedr








) and as such existent only in act
( ), that is pure actuality without
potentiality and, therefore, without
corporeality. His essence is     
 .
 This follows from the ($((
(%" (

1st Way: K
 
  there must be a first
mover himself unmoved.
2nd Way: K
   there
must be a first cause in the chain of causes,
3rd Way`K
   
there must be an absolutely necessary being,
4th Way: K
    
there
must be an absolutely perfect being,
5th Way: K
 
 there must be a
rational designer.
 

 
"
  "
It consists of &":
   - the general principles
of morality, including a theory of law,
which is the '('))'*.
!    - morality in
particular, including individual virtues and
vices.
 
 
It talks about the
general
principles of
morality,
including laws.
 ""
‡  """ "
love, hate, desire, aversion, joy, sorrow

‡ """ "
hope, despair, confidence, fear, anger
 )&
‡ According to ›t. Thomas Aquinas, )& is
an 
 


  


 
 




‡ 

  


 

 
 
*"(&

 is 

  and
$ is 

    
 

‡ Aquinas distinguished four kinds of law:
eternal, natural, human, and divine.
Eternal law is the decree of God that
governs all creation. & is the
 + +   &
 ""$" 
 Classical Natural Law Theory
*" of law for Aquinas:

‡  )& (laws of the universe) the whole

community of the universe is governed by divine
reason
‡ $ )& (the revealed word of God) we need
to be guided to our supernatural destiny, our
reason being inadequate to reveal it to us
‡  )& created by us for the purpose of
carrying out natural law
‡ )& eternal law as it applies to us,
which we know by reason
‡ $ & is ‡  & is
the specially positive law:

 the natural law

  


  



  
 
It merely talks
about morality
and the
different virtues
and vices of an
individual.
In his ethical discussions
Aquinas distinguishes
theological from 
$" and $"
 ± (
‡ ›t. Thomas defines virtue as "a good habit
bearing on activity´
‡ Virtue, which is an operative habit, is a
good habit productive of good works.
‡ Not every habit is a virtue, but only one
that so improves and perfects a rational
faculty as to incline it towards good -- good
for the faculty, for the will and for the
whole man in terms of his ultimate destiny.
  ±"
Aquinas defined the ( $" as:
‡   - able to judge between actions with regard to
appropriate actions at a given time.
‡  "  - practicing self-control,
abstention, and moderation.
‡ ," - proper moderation between self-interest and the
rights and needs of others.
‡ * - forbearance, endurance, and
ability to confront fear and uncertainty, or intimidation.

The cardinal virtues are natural and revealed in nature, and

they are binding on everyone.
 ±"
There are, however, $"
‡ * - steadfastness in belief.
‡  - expectation of and desire of receiving;
refraining from despair and capability of not
giving up.
‡  - selfless, unconditional, and voluntary
loving-kindness such as helping one's
neighbors.
These are supernatural and are distinct from other
virtues in their object, namely, God:
 ± 
‡ An evil, degrading, or immoral practice or habit.
‡ A habit inclining one to sin, and the sin itself, which is
an individual morally wrong act.
‡ Thomas Aquinas taught that "absolutely speaking, the
sin surpasses the vice in wickedness".
‡ On the other hand,  


 
 
   
 
 
 
 

    
 
 




  

   
   
‡   $-
 (( $ 
‡ The $(  is the firmly held belief that food
and drink are good.
‡ The $(" is the firmly held belief that sexual
pleasure is good.
‡ The $( is the firmly held belief that money
and possessions are good.
‡ The $(  is the firmly held belief that injustice
committed against us or others is bad, joined with the
firmly held belief that punishment of such an injustice is
good.
‡ The $( $ is the firmly held belief that the
excellence or superiority of another is bad.
‡ The $(" is the firmly held belief that activity and
effort are bad.
‡ The $($  is the firmly held belief that a
show, or image, of excellence is good.
‡ The $( is the firmly held belief that
excellences, not in our power, are good.
 ›ins
‡ Aquinas defines sin as "&--
"-  
& .In other words, anything that
disobeys God's will is said to be a " ,
and is synonymous with +$+
‡ He greatly influenced Catholic
understandings of mortal and venial
sins.
  "
‡  " - Mortal sin is a grievous
offense against the law of God. It deprives
the sinner of sanctifying grace. Mortal sin
occurs as soon as God is no longer our
final end in our thoughts, words, and
actions.

‡ Example: killing the innocent, adultery,

 ±  "
‡ ±  " - Venial sin is a less serious
offense against the law of God, which
does not deprive the soul of sanctifying
grace, and which can be pardoned even
without sacramental confession.

‡ Example: impatience, slight faultfinding,

lies that harm nobody.
 

 
"
  "
‡ In this third part Aquinas discusses the person,
office and work of Jesus Christ, and had begun
to discuss the sacraments, when death put an
end to his labors.
‡ The third part of the ›

 is also divided into
two parts, but by accident rather than by design.
Aquinas died before he had finished his great
work, and what has been added to complete the
scheme is appended as a › 




.
END!
Thank you!