The 60-Second Aquinas
Lesson
Four Wounds of Nature
November 27, 1998
Sin affects the soul by diminishing one’s natural inclination to virtue (ST I-II, Q. 85, Art. 1). Aquinas names four specific wounds of nature that are caused by sin: weakness, ignorance, malice, and desire (ST I-II, Q. 85, Art. 3). Aquinas also says these are both causes and effects of sin: "there is no reason why the effect of one sin should not be the cause of another" (ibid.). Finally, this all started with original sin.
Now, as for the four wounds of nature, these wounds are caused in that sin turns one away from specific virtues.
Aquinas refers to four "powers of the soul" which correspond to virtues: reason, will, irascible power, and desire. The corresponding virtues in order are prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance.
Here is the sinful effect delineated by Aquinas: "In so far as reason has lost the way to truth, there is the wound of ignorance. In so far as the will has lost its inclination to good, there is the wound of malice. In so far as the irascible power has lost its aggressiveness towards the difficult, there is the wound of weakness. Finally, in so far as desire is no longer directed to the delectable under the restraint of reason, there is the wound of desire" (ibid.).
Explanation of The 60-Second Aquinas Lesson
