PHIL 864 Aquinas on the Goodness and Malice of Human Acts
A close reading of Summa theologiae 1a2ae.18-21. What constitutes an action's specifically moral character (as opposed to its ontological, biological or physical nature)? How can one assess the moral value of an action? These questions are answered in ST 1a2ae.18-21, where Aquinas discusses the distinction between good and evil action, the constitutive elements of good or evil action (the end, the object and circumstances), the question of the existence of indifferent acts, the distinction between interior and exterior acts, and the problem of erring conscience. Special attention will be paid to the historical background of the topics discussed in this treatise and to the development of Aquinas's thought throughout his career.