Aquinas's Ethics: Metaphysical Foundations, Moral Theory, and Theological Context Book

Acknowledgments xi

List of Abbreviations xv

Introduction 1

Aquinas's Connection to Aristotle 3

Happiness as the End of Human Nature and Human Actions 7

Part 1 Human Nature

One The Metaphysics of Human Nature 13

The Hierarchy of Being 14

Two Ends of the Spectrum: Pure Actuality and Pure Potentiality 18

Material Substances, Intellects, and Human Beings 20

Being and Goodness: God, Creatures, and Function 24

Two Soul and Body 27

Soul 28

Bodies, Matter, and Human Beings 35

Souls in Separation from Matter 40

Human Persons 43

Three Human Capacities and the Image of God 46

Essence and Capacity 49

The Soul's Capacities in General 50

Specific Capacities of the Rational Soul 52

Intellect and Will 57

Being and Goodness Revisited 63

Part Two Human Actions

Four Actions and Ends 69

The Source of Human Action 70

The Ultimate End of Action 73

The Process of Action: Intellect and Will 78

The Process of Action: Passion 85

Five The Moral Appraisal of Actions 90

Good and Bad Actions in General 90

A Closer Look at Bad Actions 96

Sins of Ignorance 98

Sins of Passion 102

Sins of the Will 104

Six Habits and Freedom 110

Habit Formation 110

Freedom of Action 115

Aquinas in the Current Debate 123

The Road Ahead 124

Part Three Human Flourishing

Seven The Virtues 129

What Is a Virtue? 131

Kinds of Virtues 137

A Closer Look at the Theological Virtues 147

Eight Law and Grace 152

Law 152

Defending an Integrationist Reading of Aquinas's Ethics 159

Grace 165

Virtue, Law, and Grace as Interior and Exterior Guides to Action 169

Nine Theologically Transformed Virtue and Vice 173

The Vice of Sloth 175

TheVirtue of Courage 181

Epilogue 188

Notes 190

Index 237