The 60-Second Aquinas
Lesson
Man's Ultimate End
August 25, 1998
With an earthly population of more than four billion, countless religions, innumerable political stances, and as many personalities as people, it seems ludicrous for Aquinas to argue that all humans have one ultimate end.
Aquinas says the one ultimate end is sought by all, even though they may search for it in different ways. It’s as if there are an infinite number of roads all leading to the same house.
Augustine said the ultimate end is happiness. Aquinas agrees but is a little more specific: "all desire their good to be complete, which is what the ultimate end is" (ST I-II, Q. 1 Art. 7).
The ultimate end is complete happiness, but Aquinas recognizes that the means to this end may differ individually: "with respect to that in which this kind of thing is realized, all men are not agreed as to their ultimate end, for some desire riches as their complete good, some sense pleasure, and others something else" (ibid.).
Regardless of means, it is important to most of Aquinas’ moral philosophy for happiness to be the ultimate good sought by all.
Explanation of The 60-Second Aquinas Lesson
