Abstract
Aquinas recognised the “acquired virtues” discussed by Aristotle, which human friendship promotes. As a Christian theologian, he identified “infused virtues” – God-given strengths – that fit our complex psyche for the journey into God’s happiness. Their context is Charity, friendship with God. For some scholars, Aquinas does not rate acquired virtues highly; or the infused virtues exclude or absorb them. I argue that Aquinas values both kinds. Infused virtues protect and heal a convert who lacks acquired virtues. If a Christian falls into serious sin, acquired virtues preserve him from total, immediate moral collapse. Ideally, infused and acquired virtues nurture each other as moral integrity grows. Acquired virtues continue to operate in many practical, “Natural-Law” activities that typically remain part of the complex lives of God’s friends.
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Bibliography
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Abbreviations
Works of St. Thomas Aquinas are referred to as follows:
Summa Theologiae | Prima Pars | 1a | Followed by no. of question, then no. of article |
Summa Theologiae | Prima Secundae | 1a2ae | Followed by no. of question, then no. of article |
Summa Theologiae | Secunda Secundae | 2a2ae | Followed by no. of question, then no. of article |
Summa Theologiae | Tertia Pars | 3a | Followed by no. of question, then no. of article |
Quaestio Disputata de Virtutibus in Communi | ViCom followed by no. of article | ||
Quaestio Disputata de Virtutibus Cardinalibus | VCard followed by no. of article |
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Conrad, R. (2017). Human Practice and God’s Making-Good in Aquinas’ Virtue Ethics. In: Carr, D., Arthur, J., Kristjánsson, K. (eds) Varieties of Virtue Ethics. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-59177-7_10
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-59177-7_10
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