VIRTUE ETHICS

ST. TOMAS
AQUINAS
• For Aquinas, we don't encounter ourselves as isolated minds or selves, but
rather always as agents interacting with our environment. Aquinas begins
his theory of self-knowledge from the claim that all our self-knowledge is
dependent on our experience of the world around us.
 Who is St. Tomas Aquinas?
• St. Tomas Aquinas was born in Roccasecca, Italy during the medieval period. He
studied liberal arts at the University of Naples, and in 1249, He became a
Dominican Friar. He is known as the doctor of the church because of his immense
contribution to the theology and Doctrine of the Catholic Church. His influence on
western thought is considerable, specially on modern philosophy. His most important
works are the “Summa Theologica” where he expounded on the five proofs of the
existence of God and the “Summa Contra Gentiles” or the “Book on the truth of
the Catholic Faith” against the errors of the unbelievers. The two books are
combinations of Philosophy and Theology where he discussed about the role of
natural law, virtues and happiness in moral philosophy
 NATURAL LAW
• St. Tomas Aquinas begins his explanation of virtue ethics by
grounding on natural law. He discusses the natural law along
with eternal law. By linking the two laws he shows that it has
theological underpinning because his philosophy is theistic or
belief in God as the highest of all goods. God expresses his self
through the eternal law, his will and his plan for all his
creatures.
• There are two groups of adherents who are God’s creatures to natural law,
but in difference sense. The difference manifests to who can reciprocate
and respond to the moral requirements of God. The first group is the
Rational Creatures. It refers to us, human beings who are gifted with
rationality and freedom. Because we are thinking beings, it is we who can
understand and analyze the content of the moral requirements. The second
group is the Irrational Creatures without rationality and freedom.
Though they are without the gifts of reasoning and free will, their
actuations are governed by the natural law.
 The Natural Law and its Tenet
• A class manual in Moral Philosophy, The right Reverend Msgr. Paul J.
Glenn made a distinction of natural law in broad sense and in the narrow
sense for rational and irrational creatures. Other than being a priest and an
author, Reverend Msgr. Glenn was also an educator at St. Charles
Preparatory school and seminary. He served as the rector and principal of
the seminary from 1945-1957. His books include a tour of the Summa:
Philosophic Defense and Explanation of the Catholic Religion.
Where is Natural Law situated in the scheme
of things in the Philosophy of Aquinas?

• As we all know that his philosophy is grounded on the belief that God
exists. God is known as the highest good and being who establishes
eternal law where hid divine plan for his creatures has been inscribed. But
he also categorizes the law to make his eternal law more comprehensible.
 Happiness as Constitutive of Moral and
Cardinal Virtues
• The moral and cardinal virtues of Aquinas has special meaning in this moral
philosophy. Virtues consist of human actions that are frequently carrying
out, so much so that such human act becomes easily executed. There are
many kinds of acts that can be carried out frequently but not all them
belongs to one category called virtues.
• Among the frequent moral good acts, there are some virtues that stand out
among other virtues, these are the known four moral cardinal virtues. It is
called cardinal from the Greek word cardo, means because when these
virtues are being practiced, the rest of the virtues follow.
 THE FOUR CARDINAL VIRTUES
• Prudence – This virtue is an exercise of understanding that helps us known the
best means in solving moral problems in which we encounter in the concrete
circumstances.
• Justice – This habit is an exercise of the will to give or render the things, be it
intellectual or material, to anyone who owns it.
• Fortitude – This habit is an exercise of courage to face any dangers one
encounters without fear, especially when life is at stake.
• Temperance – This habit of exercise of control in the midst of strong attraction to
pleasure.
THANK YOU!