Aristotle and Aquinas

With so much comparison between the ancient Greeks and the Christian tradition going on in this class, I decided to share a few quick thoughts on Aristotle and Aquinas. It is clear that both hold virtue to be highly important and necessary to reach a higher ultimate end. Aquinas accepts this idea of habituation and teaching as methods of instilling virtue, but adds another major component to the mix. Not only are there acquired virtues that each person can develop on their own (Aristotle), but there are also infused virtues that are only obtained through God. God is the biggest difference between Aristotle and Aquinas, because having God as the center of one's life changes every other aspect of living a proper moral life.

This influences the comparison of the ultimate end for both philosophers. They do agree about happiness playing a central role in one's pursuit of actions. Happiness rooted in contemplation for Aristotle is tied to the divine, but also occurs in this life. Aquinas on the other hand, makes beatitude (intellectual vision of God) the ultimate end with happiness being a necessary consequence of this end. Additionally, Aquinas and Aristotle agree that reason is a major source from which knowledge, virtues, and proper morality flow forth. However, the influence of a belief in God is again the difference maker with Aquinas also arguing that faith is an equal player in achieving knowledge, virtue, and proper morality.

These are only a couple quick thoughts that immediately come to mind when talking about these two and there is so much more to talk about. Much of what Aristotle lacks comes as a consequence of the time period that he lived in. Had he lived after the coming of Christ and had that knowledge by revelation, I think we would have seen an even more agreeable picture painted with his works.

-BaylorBear16