Chapter 3

Virtue Ethics: St. Thoms

Aquinas

Reporter:
Abegail T. La Torre
Who is St. Thomas Aquinas?

- He was born in Roccasecca, Italy during

the Medieval Period.
- He studied Liberal Arts at University of
Naples and He became a Dominican Friar
during 1249.
- His most important works are the “Summa
Theologica” where he expounded on the
five proofs of the existence of God and the
“Summa Contra Gentiles” or the “Book on
the truth of the Catholic faith against the
errors of the unbelievers”.
Natural Law
- Aquinas insists that the Natural
Law expresses moral
requirements, it contains rules,
commands, and action guiding
requirements.
- The Natural Law is found within us,
his rational creatures.
The Natural and its Tenet
- The Right Reverend Msgr. Paul J. Glenn
made a distinction of natural law in
BROAD SENSE and in the NARROW
SENSE for rational and irrational
creatures.
- Glenn has made a distinction of natural
law in broad sense and in the narrow
sense for rational and irrational creatures.
- In the narrow sense, for rational
creatures, it is already given above that
natural law is already present in us who
are rational beings.
- For irrational creatures, the way they exist
and the way their actions tend toward
something that seems to be good are all
guided by this natural law.

- In the Broad sense, the natural law guides

both the rational and irrational creatures
in their own perspective tendencies
towards the realization of their beings.
Two subclasses of Human Positive
Law
• Civil Law - which is enacted and
promulgated by the lawmakers of the
land.

• Ecclesiastical Law – which is enacted

and promulgated by the religious people
regarding faiths and morals.
Happiness as Constitutive of Moral
and Cardinal Virtues
The Four Cardinal Virtues
 Prudence - it is an exercise of
understanding that helps us know the
best means in solving problems in
which we encounter in the concrete
circumstances.
 Justice – it is an exercise of the will
to give or render the things, be it
intellectual or material to anyone who
owns it.
 Fortitude - it is an exercise of courage,
to face any dangers one encounters
without fear, especially when life is at
stake.

 Temperance - it is an exercise of
control in the midst of strong attaction
to pleasures.
Thank you!