Aquinas on Happiness, Human Action, and Morality

Join Zephyr Tuesday afternoons as we read slowly through Aquinas’s treatises on happiness and human action from the Prima Secundae (I-IIae) of the Summa Theologiae (Q. 1–21).

Aquinas’s synthesis of the eudaimonistic tradition of Aristotelian ethics with the Christian moral tradition represents a seminal moment in the history of Western philosophy and theology. As we read through Aquinas’s work, we will be paying especially close attention to how Aquinas is taking over and modifying elements of the Aristotelian tradition on the one hand, and to his success or failure in doing justice to the Christian moral tradition on the other. As we will see, both of these sides of Aquinas’s synthesis pose deep and interesting questions about morality. For instance, some of Aquinas’s medieval critics, such as Duns Scotus, alleged that Aquinas’s view undermines the freedom of the will and falsifies the real nature of moral action, while his defenders urged that such an objection misunderstands the nature of the will, freedom, and morality.

No pre-reading is required: we will read through and discuss the text together as a group. No prior experience with philosophy in general or Aquinas’s thought in particular will be presupposed. Those interested are encouraged to come to as many or as few sessions as they are able to attend.

Light refreshments will be provided, and participants are welcome to bring their own lunch. Please RSVP so that Zephyr can have an accurate headcount.

We will be using Alfred Freddoso’s new translation of the Summa. The Prima Secundae can be found here.