Thomas Aquinas Natural Law and Happiness

Question 1

Born in the 13th century to a noble family in the small town of Roccasecca, near Aquino, Italy.

•He was a dominican priest

•His philosophy greatly influences the foundations of Christian theology in particular and western philosophy in general.

•Notable works: Summa Theologica and Summa Contra Gentiles.

Answer 1

Thomas Aquinas

Question 2

Meaning and Nature of Law
•Law is an _________________ for the common good made to regulate the actions of the community.

Answer 2

ordinance of reason

Question 3

Meaning and Nature of Law
• Law is a __________ and measure of acts whereby man is induced to act or is restrains from acting.

Answer 3

certain rule

Question 4

Main Functions of Law

Answer 4

a. It is directed towards specific end
b. It induces man to act in a certain way
c. It restrains man from acting in certain ways

Question 5

Basic elements of Law

Answer 5

•A law is an order of a practical reason.

•The law is meant to further the interest of the entire community, and not just of a few individuals.

•The people can enact their laws or laws can be made through genuine representative who works on behalf of the common good.

•The people are expected to be properly oriented and informed about the law.

Question 6

Kinds of Law

Answer 6

•Eternal law
•Natural law Formulation
•Divine law
•Human law

Question 7

A law that exist because of God’s divine providence.

Answer 7

Eternal Law

Question 8

Do good, avoid evil

Answer 8

Natural law Formulation

Question 9

Derived from eternal law as it appears to humans especially through revelation.

Answer 9

Divine Law

Question 10

Enacted and enforces in society.

Answer 10

Human law

Question 11

Natural Law Ethics

Answer 11

Natural law moral theory banks on the claim that moral standards are
derived from the nature of the world and of human beings.

The law of nature is “nothing else than the participation of the eternal law in the rational creature.

Love, fear and Hate are natural appetites that human being share with animals.

It is the rational appetites of humans that make them unique and special.
・
The first precept of the natural law is the law to do good and avoid evil.

Question 12

What are the Three Ends of Human Beings?

Answer 12

•To preserve life
•To reproduce
• To belong in an order society.

Question 13

Is revealed when the divine guides one’s natural inclination and is made clearly perceptible in the light of reason.

Answer 13

Objective goodness

Question 14

Is not absolute because human observation,
interpretation, and reasoning may err and situations or conditions may change. Human reason continuously explores and develops towards perfection.

Answer 14

Reason

Question 15

Guide in Making moral decisions

Answer 15

Conscience

Question 16

Innate “right reason” to know good and evil

Answer 16

Synderesis

Question 17

Makes use of the synderesis to make appropriate decisions

Answer 17

Conscientia

Question 18

Virtue as the source of moral strength:

Answer 18

Virtue is the means to perfect human activity that is equivalent to strength or power that can be developed through constant training or practice.

Virtue is a habit that helps one to live righteously.

Question 19

What are the Three Main Categories of virtues?

Answer 19

•Intellectual virtues
•Moral virtues
•Theological virtues

Question 20

it helps perfect the discipline of the mind.

Answer 20

Intellectual virtues

Question 21

are the habits that make one a good person.

Cardinal virtues:
Prudence, Justice, Temperance, Fortitude

Answer 21

•Moral virtues

Question 22

(hope, faith, charity) in theology and Christian philosophy are the qualities associated with enlightenment from the grace of God.

Answer 22

Theological virtues

Question 23

SUMMARY

Answer 23

Humans do everything for an end.
•Aquinas: the ultimate end is happiness in God.

•Not all humans share the same goals that will make them achieve the ultimate end.

•Aquinas believes that It is not possible to find complete or perfect happiness in this world.

“God is the Summum Bonum”
the Highest Good, the Final and Perfect Happiness.

Question 24

For __________, humans need to excellenty do good habitually, to be a virtuous person to fully realize their existence

Answer 24

Aristotle

Question 25

For ___________, humans naturally seek perfection to fully realize their existence. – equipped with “potentialities”- reasons because/with God.

Answer 25

Aquinas

Question 26

ADDITIONAL NOTES:

Answer 26

Aquinas and Aristotle: Ultimate end

•Aquinas agrees with Aristotle in thinking that the goodness or evilness of an act depends on whether it contributes to or hinders one from his or her ultimate end which is happiness or perfection.

•The way to attain one’s ultimate goal requires a consistent and proper use of intellectual and moral virtues