The 60-Second Aquinas
Lesson
Why do you do that?
Aquinas Lesson for June 28, 1998
It’s strange that we even have to discuss this part of Thomistic philosophy. I’ll start with the main point: Whatever we do, we do it for a reason. That is, every action is taken to achieve an end.
Are you shocked? Here’s how Thomas put it in the Summa Theologica.
"Those actions are properly called human which proceed from a deliberate will. … Now, it is clear that whatever actions proceed from a power, are caused by that power in accordance with the nature of its object. But the object of the will is the end and the good. Therefore all human actions must be for an end."
This lesson is dedicated to everyone who has ever said "I don’t know why I did it," "No reason, I just did," "We’re just messing around, doing nothing," etc.
Nope, sorry, that’s not it, you’re wrong.
The first thing we must determine when looking at the morality of actions is that we act for a reason. That’s what separates us from the animals. We can’t say an animal acts in an evil way because animals don’t know what evil is! Only humans have the choice to do good or evil.
Explanation of The 60-Second Aquinas Lesson
