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Aristotle Vs Aquinas

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It is interesting to observe how similar conclusion can be met by different means or thought processes. Thus is the moral life as discussed by Aristotle and St. Thomas Aquinas. In their writings, the two men express similar ideas though they come from drastically different backgrounds. Aristotle was a philosopher who was striving to understand things through reason while Aquinas was a monk and theologian who was striving to understand God and his creation. Despite the drastically different backgrounds, the two men arrive at very similar conclusions when it comes to the role of God and the moral life. Both of their ideas stem from the origin of the universe and the function of man. Then they both discus the nature of man and the greatest good he can achieve and what that aim truly is. Overall, both a …show more content…

Both believe in a divine creator who made all things with an end or function, but these functions are different. For Aristotle this function is happiness, while for Aquinas this end is unity with God. The main difference in the view of morality between the two lies in the role of God. The god of Aristotle created things with an order but chose not to continue to govern, while the God of Aquinas takes on the role of both creator and governor. Not only did he create man inclined to natural law, but he enforces His mandates. This difference is key. Morals are necessary in both cases for them to reach their function to either achieve happiness or unity with God. In conclusion, both Aristotle and Aquinas have similar views on morals in the life of man when it comes to origin and purpose, however they differ when it comes to how they are given to man. In a way, they are both correct, but Aquinas seems to have a fuller understanding of the functions of morals in the life of

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As stated in the book, Aristotle was actually the one “who developed the threefold pattern of character transformation (Wright, 2010). ” During this time the final goal that Aristotle encouraged people to reach for was the development into a “fully flourishing human being (Wright, 2010).” Wright compares this goal with that of the Christian perspective and demonstrates how Jesus focused on bringing all of the individuals together to reach for the ultimate goal that God has given us. As for the second thing needed for character transformation Aristotle saw the need to develop virtues like courage and justice, while Jesus encouraged his followers to develop virtues like love, kindness, and forgiveness.

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Scholars Aristotle and Confucius are both well-known people in history. Aristotle was an incredible Greek rationalist and researcher while Confucius was a Chinese government official, a savant, and an instructor. They both made huge commitments to ideals and morals. Their thoughtful works were comparable in nature, yet with some unique perspectives, thoughts, and points of view toward temperance.

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I believe that Aristotle’s ideas are more significant as they closer to western beliefs than Plato’s. Similarities can be found in religion, art, government, and evolution. Unlike Plato, Aristotle believed in the idea of a god, much like many people today. He believed that God was the First thing to exist, separate from all matter and is the ultimate form. As well as is a pure minded being.

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Thomas Aquinas was greatly influenced by Aristotle and it clearly reflected through his works. Aquinas adopted Aristotle’s theories of place, motion, and time making them his primary source of inspiration to his own philosophical thoughts. Aristotle wasn’t the only inspiration in St. Thomas Aquinas but he was the most important one related to God and living. He believed that God and the natural world were connected, and that Aristotle’s thought that all living things had soul, including plants and animals were true. Because of his idea of the existence of God which was influenced by Aristotle, and the ways of living the Church wouldn’t approve his work, the archbishop of Paris declared his thoughts as profanation.

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Aquinas had found through the analysis of objects on Earth and their relationship with each other that everything has a purpose to live for another. For example, a plant lives for animals and animals live for humans. Because of this chain, we as well are made for something to which Aquinas describes

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