Aquinas Vs Aristotle

Theories which attempt to explain morality based on the purpose of human life and the defining characteristics of what should be considered a “good” life date all the way back to Ancient Greece. Aristotle, was one of the most famous writers of ancient times to discuss morality and ethics. As a philosopher, Aristotle believed that if a purpose was fulfilled than it was ‘good’. This is the basis of natural law in ethical beliefs and also implies that everything has a purpose in life and actions are either right or wrong depending on whether or not they contribute to fulfilling said purpose. The church and these everyday moral and ethical views can sync nicely or contrast, depending on the views of each other. When it comes to ethics and morality …show more content…
Despite the differences, ethics and religion overlap in many ways. Centuries ago moral /ethical thinking was dominated by the influence of Aristotle and taught to citizens in the world by Christian Theologians. One of the most influential was Aquinas. He used Aristotle’s ideas in order to argue that God created the world and everything should have God’s purpose in mind in order to achieve the most good. Humans understand and choose whether or not to follow God’s laws during their lives and morality and ethics are often based on the authority given to the high priests through the church. This was what Aquinas called “natural law.” Natural law does not take social attitudes into account. There are no personal preferences or guessing if an action might lead to happiness, it is based on purpose. God created things with a particular purpose in mind, and thus people should understand and act accordingly. This rigid relationship of religion and morality allows humans to fulfil their lives as intended by …show more content…
In the eyes of a true Christian, or a person that follows the church, marriage is the sacrament that lets two people of the opposite sex connect with each other on an intimate level. It is a sacred bond between two people, to the church that is what makes them whole. Some people that disregard the church, however use it as a pleasurable thing. It is not so much sacred anymore and is for the most part abused. Another example, is abortion. Many people along with the church feel that this is very morally wrong. It’s one of the most controversial topics in the world. There is always debates about pro-life. It’s just the fact that some people have different