By What did Aquinas and Aristotle agree on?
St. Thomas Aquinas, a medieval Roman Catholic scholar, reconciled the political philosophy of Aristotle with Christian faith. In doing so, he contended that a just ruler or government must work for the “common good” of all.
What is the ethics of Thomas Aquinas?
Aquinas believes that we should always follow our conscience, even when it is wrong or causes great harm. Since we have no way of knowing whether our consciences are wrong, they are the best guide we have as to what is the moral thing to do.
What did Aristotle say about ethics?
Aristotle emphasized that virtue is practical, and that the purpose of ethics is to become good, not merely to know. Aristotle also claims that the right course of action depends upon the details of a particular situation, rather than being generated merely by applying a law.
Did Aquinas follow Aristotle?
Aquinas was a committed disciple of Aristotle but was an even more sincere disciple of the Church. He reconceived Aristotle’s ideas to a new context, was able to make distinctions that Aristotle did not formulate, and never hesitated to go beyond Aristotle.
What is the telos of man according to Aristotle and Aquinas?
On the one hand, Aquinas follows Aristotle in thinking that an act is good or bad depending on whether it contributes to or deters us from our proper human end—the telos or final goal at which all human actions aim. On the other hand, Aquinas believes that we can never achieve complete or final happiness in this life.
What is virtue ethics according to Aristotle?
Virtue ethics is a philosophy developed by Aristotle and other ancient Greeks. It is the quest to understand and live a life of moral character. This character-based approach to morality assumes that we acquire virtue through practice. So, virtue ethics helps us understand what it means to be a virtuous human being.
What is the difference between the two ethical principles of Aristotle and Aquinas?
Aristotle was not a religious person, but did recognize God as the highest being. He thought that being a virtuous person was a good enough reason to be moral. Aquinas believed that one should be moral because God was leading him to a moral life.