ST.

THOMAS AQUINAS
AND THE CHRISTIAN
CONTEXT

ETHICS
THINK
• A quick glance at Thomas Aquinas and the Christian context
in which he lived and strived to make more comprehensible,
and his larger ethical framework.
• In the years 1225-1274, Thomas Aquinas was held as a doctor
of the Roman Catholic Church.
• He was one of the figures who fundamentally shaped the way
we are today in understanding Christian faith.
• WITH HIS BACKGROUND AS A DOMINICAN FRIAR (A FRIAR IS A
MEMBER OF THE MENDIVANT ORDERS), AQUINAS WAS A
PREEMINENT INTELLECTUAL FIGURE OF THE SCHOLASTIC
PERIOD OF THE MIDDLE AGES.
• HIS CONTRIBUTION WAS IN THE DOCTRINE OF FAITH. HE WAS
KNOWN OF HIS SUMMA THEOLOGIAE, A MAGNUM OPUS (a magnum
opus is a large literature and important work of the doctrine of Christian
faith) WHICH LED HIM TO BE CANONIZED IN 1323.
• TO BE CANONIZED AS A PERSON MEANS THE DECLARATION OF A
DECEASED AS AN OFFICIALLY RECOGNIZED SAINT, WORTHY OF
VENERATION AND ENTERED INTO THE CANON CATALOGUE OF
SAINTS.
THE CONTEXT OF THE CHRISTIAN
STORY
• THE FUNDAMENTAL TRUTH MAINTAINED AND ELABORATED
BY THOMAS AQUINAS ACCORDING TO OUR LESSON, WAS
THAT; WE ARE CREATED BY GOD IN ORDER TO ULTIMATELY
RETURN TO HIM.
• HIS SUMMA THEOLOGIAE WAS DIVIDED INTO THREE PARTS:
• 1. AQUINAS SPEAKS OF GOD, DESPITE OUR LIMITED
KNOWLEDGE AND THEREFORE CANNOT FULLY UNDERSTAND
HIM, AT LEAST WE CAN SAY SOMETHING CONCERNING HIS
GOODNESS, MIGHT, AND CREATIVE POWER.
• RECOGNIZING THAT WE ARE CREATED BY GOD MOVES US INTO THE
SECOND PART, WHICH HE DEALS WITH THE DYNAMIC OF HUMAN
LIFE.
• THE CHARACTERISTIC OF THIS DYNAMIC IS OUR PURSUIT OF
HAPPINESS WHICH WE SHOULD REALIZE WHICH RESTS ULTIMATELY
NOT ON ANY PARTICULAR GOOD THING THAT IS CREATED BY GOD,
BUT IN THE HIGHEST GOOD WHICH IS GOD HIMSELF.
• OUR STRIVING FOR ULTIMATE HAPPINESS, WILL NOT BRING IN US
TO THIS WHAT IS CALLED, “BLESSED STATE OF LIFE.” FOR
SALVATION (THE BLESSED STATE OF LIFE) IS ONLY POSSIBLE
THROUGH THE PRESENCE OF GOD’S GRACE AND THAT GRACE HAS
BECOME PERPECTLY INCARNATE IN THE PERSON OF JESUS.
JESUS AS SAVIOR
• THE THIRD PART FOCUSES ON JESUS AS SAVIOR. THIS TOPIC
BRINGS HOPE TO HELP US FIND THAT THERE IS NOT ONLY A
GREATER COMPLEXITY, BUT ALSO COHERENCE, TO THE ETHICS
OF THOMAS AQUINAS.
• THOMAS AQUINAS ETHICS REQUIRES US TO EXPLORE OTHER
MATTERS SUCH AS THE QUESTION, “HOW TO PURSUE HAPPINESS.
THIS INVOLVES ALSO THE EXPLORATION OF HOW OUR PASSIONS
(EMOTIONS) ARE INVOLVE IN THE PROCESS WHICH REQUIRES
PROPER ORDER IF IT WILL CONTRIBUTE TO PROPERLY TO A
GOOD LIFE.
• ALSO, WE MIGHT EXPLORE HOW OUR ACTIONS ARE
RELATED TO CERTAIN DISPOSITIONS (OFTEN REFERRED TO
AS HABITS) IN A DYNAMIC WAY SINCE OUR ACTIONS ARISE
FROM OUR HABITS AND AT THE SAME TIME REINFORCES
THEM.
• ANOTHER AREA TO EXPLORE IS THE DISCUSSION HOW TO
DEVELOP EITHER GOOD OR BAD HABITS WITH A GOOD
DISPOSITION LEADING US TOWARDS MAKING MORAL
CHOICES, HENCE CONTRIBUTING TO OUR MORAL VIRTUE,
AND A BAD DISPOSITION BENDING US TOWARDS MAKING
IMMORAL CHOISES, WHICH BRINGS US TO VICE.
• IN THIS, AQUINAS POINTS US TO CHRISTIAN LIFE, THAT IT IS
ABOUT DEVELOPING THE CAPACITIES GIVEN TO US BY
GOD, LEADING US INTO A DISPOSITION OF VIRTUE
INCLINED TOWARDS GOOD.
• HE PUTS FORWARDS THAT THERE IS WITHIN US A
CONSCIENCE THAT DIRECTS US TO MORAL THINKING. THIS
IS NOT SIMPLE INTUITION OR FEELING BUT A SENSE OF
RIGHT AND WRONG IN US THAT WE ARE OBLIGED TO OBEY.
• THIS SENSE OF RIGHT AND WRONG MUST BE INFORMED,
GUIDED, AND FINALLY, GROUNDED IN AN OBJECTIVE BASIS
FOR MORALITY.
• Aquinas concluded that we are all called to obey the voice of our
conscience and enjoin to develop and maintain a life of virtue.
• Both require content, therefore, we need something more. This
something more is the base for our conscience to be properly informed,
need a clearer guidepost to certain decisions we make which lead us
either toward virtue or vice.
• To merely BE TOLD to LISTEN TO OUR CONSCIENCE brings SO
little to guide people to what specifically should be done. There is a need
for a clearer basis of ethics, a grounding that will more concretely direct
our sense of what is right and wrong. And this would be the law
according to Thomas Aquinas.
 EXPERIENCE
• Can you still recall the “DIVINE COMMAND THEORY” of which we
were urged towards an unthinking (without using reason) obedience to
religious precepts or principles. This, for Aquinas is simplistic approach to
ethics.
• What is needed as Aquinas contrary requires is the JUDICIOUS USE OF
REASON. And by doing so, a person’s sense of right and wrong is
grounded on something stable – the human nature itself.
• Given that Philippines is predominantly Christian, give you or us the idea
that we must have been familiar with Christianity. Did it surprise you with
what we had discuss so far?
ASSESS

• CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS:

• 1. what details can you recall about St. Thomas Aquinas.
• 2. Explain how the SUMMA THEOLOGAIE itself is base on the main
message of the Christian faith.
• 3. Explain the dynamic between act and habits and the REASON
WHY is it IMPORTANT IN ETHICS.
•
CHALLENGE
• CONSIDER THE TERM “CONSCIENCE” as it is being popular in
thinking something a part of us that somehow involved in our moral
thinking.
• Think how some of the common ways people might understand this
term.
• Currently, do some people make online research on conscience as
discussed by Thomas Aquinas. Compare and contrast our
philosopher’s discussion of it with the popular notions or meanings.
CONNECT
• Think about the community you are living in – village, school, maybe a
workplace, and ask yourself,
• To what extent am I affected by my religious faith about Christianity determines
my influence the rules and other standards or norms other people adhere.
• Try to MAKE AN OBJECTIVE ASSESSMENT of both the pros and cons of
this religious presence.
• Think about this principle which Thomas Aquinas lays before us, “a person’s
sense of right and wrong is grounded on something stable – human nature itself.
If our standard of what is right and wrong has been fully established in our very
nature, that’s really stable rather than just doing what other people is telling us.