Real And Apparent Goods

Question 1

Did Aquinas believe that humans were perfect?

Answer 1

-No!
-though the natural law instituted by God gives people the opportunity to work towards good in all things, Paul in the scriptures recognised that this is not always possible “all have sinners and fallen short of the glory of God”
-humans will fall short of God’s best to them due to the fall and how humans violated their perfect relationship with God

Question 2

Did Aquinas believe humans could commit evil?

Answer 2

-No! He stated that “no evil can be desire able” and “the good is which all things seek after” indicating that human actions should lead toward the beatific vision of God. This concept is rooted in Aristotle’s idea of eudaimonia, where true happiness comes from fulfilling one’s purpose in accordance with virtue.
-He believed that they could commit “apparent goods” maintaining the idea that humans orientate towards the achievement of perfection and can never knowingly pursue evil

Question 3

What are apparent goods?

Answer 3

Actions that are not in the pursuit of perfection that seem to fulfil human desires but do not genuinely contribute to human flourishing
-they may provide immediate pleasure but ultimately lead one away from the fulfilment that comes from following natural law

Question 4

What are real goods?

Answer 4

Real goods are those things that genuinely fulfil human’s being nature and lead them closer to their ultimate end which is happiness of the beatific vision

Question 5

What is an example of real and apparent goods?

Answer 5

-The Nazis believed they were pursuing a good by creating a better Germany, rationalizing the Holocaust and murder of 6 million as serving this goal. -However, this was an apparent good, as their reasoning was gravely mistaken and rooted in prejudice Unlike a real good, which aligns with objective moral truths and human flourishing