The 60-Second Aquinas
Lesson
More on Desire
November 28, 1998
We naturally have desires. It is somewhat odd that Aquinas would declare desire to be a wound of nature. Aquinas usually has a more positive attitude toward nature, stating that we are naturally inclined to virtue, etc.
Furthermore, Aquinas himself admits that desire is a "power of the soul." Is our soul tainted by a natural power that is in fact a wound?
No. While Aquinas’ declaration that desire is a wound of nature should not come as too large of a surprise. When does sin usually occur? It happens when we act more in accordance with our desires than with what we know by reason to be right.
Therefore, Aquinas explains "desire is natural to man in so far as it is subject to reason, but is contrary to his nature if it exceeds the bounds of reason" (ST I-II, Q. 85, Art. 3, reply to Obj. 3).
As he has said before, there are several parts to the soul, and we act correctly when our parts are correctly ordered. We act correctly when reason guides our soul. Desire itself is not evil, but it must be guided by reason.
Explanation of The 60-Second Aquinas Lesson
