Saint Thomas Aquinas was a theologian, philosopher, and writer who lived during the 13th century. He is considered one of the most influential thinkers in the history of Western philosophy and is famous for his Summa Theologica, a comprehensive work on theology and philosophy. According to Aquinas, the purpose of man is to seek happiness, which is the ultimate end of human existence. In this essay, we will explore Aquinas’s views on the purpose of man in detail.
The Nature of Man
According to Aquinas, man is a rational being, endowed with intellect and free will. He is created in the image of God and has the capacity to know and love Him. Man’s rational nature allows him to reason and understand the world around him, and his free will enables him to choose between good and evil. In Aquinas’s view, man’s nature is intrinsically good, but he is also prone to sin due to the effects of original sin.
The End of Man
Aquinas believed that the end or purpose of man is to seek happiness. However, he did not define happiness in the conventional sense of pleasure or satisfaction. Instead, he viewed happiness as the ultimate goal of human existence, which could only be achieved through a life of virtue and the attainment of the beatific vision, or the direct vision of God.
Aquinas believed that happiness was not something that could be achieved by external means such as wealth or power, but rather by internal means such as wisdom, self-control, and moral virtue. He argued that human beings are naturally inclined to seek happiness and that this inclination is part of their rational nature.
Virtue and Happiness
According to Aquinas, virtue is the key to happiness. Virtue is a habit or disposition of the soul that enables a person to act in accordance with reason and the moral law. Virtue is acquired through practice and habituation and is expressed in actions that are morally good and beneficial to oneself and others.
Aquinas identified four cardinal virtues: prudence, justice, temperance, and fortitude. Prudence is the ability to make wise decisions and judgments, justice is the ability to treat others fairly and equitably, temperance is the ability to control one’s desires and passions, and fortitude is the ability to face adversity and overcome fear.
In addition to the cardinal virtues, Aquinas believed that there are three theological virtues that are essential for the Christian life: faith, hope, and charity.
Faith is the first theological virtue, and it is the foundation of all Christian belief. According to Aquinas, faith is a supernatural gift from God that enables us to believe in Him and accept the truths of the Christian faith. Faith is not based on our own reasoning or intellect but is a free gift from God that we receive through grace. Faith involves both intellectual assent to the truths of Christianity and a personal trust in God. Through faith, we believe in God’s existence, His revelation to us through Scripture and Tradition, and the doctrines of the Church.
The second theological virtue is hope, which is closely related to faith. While faith involves believing in God’s promises, hope involves trusting in them. Aquinas describes hope as the “sure and steadfast expectation of eternal life and the grace to attain it.” Hope is a gift from God that enables us to trust in His promises, even when we face difficulties and challenges in life. It is through hope that we can endure suffering and persevere in our Christian journey, trusting that God will ultimately bring us to eternal life.
The third and final theological virtue is charity, which Aquinas describes as the greatest of all virtues. Charity is the supernatural love of God that is poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit. It is through charity that we love God above all things and love our neighbors as ourselves. Charity is not merely a feeling or emotion but is a decision of the will to seek the good of others for their own sake. It is through charity that we imitate Christ, who loved us and gave Himself up for us.