Telos Flashcards
What concept from Aristotle influenced Aquinas in his ethical framework?
Aquinas was influenced by Aristotle’s concept of telos, which asserts that everything has a natural purpose or end built into it by its nature.
How does Aquinas differ from Aristotle regarding the final cause of all things?
While Aristotle believed the prime mover was the final cause of all things, Aquinas claimed it was the Christian God.
According to Aquinas, what is the telos or goal of rational beings?
The telos of rational beings, according to Aquinas, is the goodness of God, which involves glorifying God by following His moral law.
What is the role of ethics in Aquinas’s framework?
Ethics, for Aquinas, involves using reason to discover the natural law within our nature and conforming our actions to it.
How does Aquinas view the operation of the universe according to divine plan?
Aquinas suggests that God designed the universe to operate according to His divine plan by instilling telos in every being to direct it towards its good end.
What is the consequence of following God’s natural law, according to Aquinas?
Following God’s natural law results in flourishing (eudaimonia) both for individuals and society, while disobeying it has the opposite effect.
What quote from Aquinas summarizes his perspective on reason and human acts?
“The light of reason is placed by nature in every man, to guide him in his acts towards his end.” - Aquinas.
