Aquinas' Views on Moral Philosophy

Q. 6- Explain Thomas Aquinas’ views of moral philosophy.

 Ans: The moral philosophy of Aquinas is based on the teleological eudaimonia of Aristotle.  He asserted that the God is ‘the ultimate end’ and ‘Supreme good’ of humans. Only with the help of God’s grace can men attain encounter with the last end.  As a believer of intelligent design he mentioned that God has a plan for all creation. Nothing is happening randomly in this universe. His eternal law is manifested in the natural law. This natural law is being revealed by Him to His devotees and a part of it is clear to the discursive reasoning of human being.

       Acting as per eternal law or eternal reason is moral act, according to Aquinas.  But it is only human reason which can interpret the implication of this ‘natural law’.  To synchronize with this eternal law interpreted by reason is the norm of morality.  So, the norm of morality is intrinsic not extrinsic one.

Taking inspiration from Aristotle, he distinguished between “speculative” and “practical” reason. According to him, though the jurisdiction of speculative reason is theoretical knowledge, practical reason reins in the realm of moral actions. Further, b oth of these has argumentative and

intuitive aspects. The intuitive aspect of speculative reason supports the ‘first principles’ which are ‘self-evident’ and needn’t any proof. In the same manner self-evident, first principles of practical reason are called synderesis. Aquinas calls them “the first principles of the natural law” because synderesis not only decides the moral activities but also it judges the activities related to other beings. For example, the principle of self preservation is such norm which human being share with other species. Another common characteristic of men and animals is, reproduction. Again there are some specific features which belong to men alone. For example, need to live in society and know about God. But these matters are different from matter of conscience.

·       From the first principles which are universal and unchanging, one can derive the secondary and more  specific ones which may be changed if in any particular case it is required to change.