Aquinas, Ethics, and Philosophy of Religion: Metaphysics and Practice (Indiana Series in the Philosophy of Religion)

261 Pages·2007·5.88 MB·English

by  Thomas Hibbs

Aquinas, Ethics, and
Philosophy of Religion
Indiana Series in the Philosophy of Religion
Merold Westphal, general editor
Aquinas, Ethics, and
Philosophy of Religion
Metaphysics and Practice
Thomas Hibbs
Indiana University Press
Bloomington and Indianapolis
This book is a publication of
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∫ 2007 by Thomas S. Hibbs
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Hibbs, Thomas S.
Aquinas, ethics, and philosophy of religion : metaphysics and practice / Thomas Hibbs.
p. cm. — (Indiana series in the philosophy of religion)
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-0-253-34881-4 (cloth : alk. paper) 1. Thomas, Aquinas, Saint, 1225?–1274. 2. Ethics.
3. Metaphysics. 4. Religion—Philosophy. 5. Virtue. I. Title.
B765.T54H45 2007
189%.4—dc22
2006034519
1 2 3 4 5 12 11 10 09 08 07
For Stacey

In order to degrade the politics of Plato, Aristotle, or Saint Thomas to the
rank of ‘‘values’’ among others, a conscientious scholar would first have to
show that their claim to be science was unfounded. And that attempt is
self-defeating. By the time the would-be critic has penetrated the meaning
of metaphysics with sufficient thoroughness to make his criticism weighty,
he will have become a metaphysician himself. The attack on metaphysics
can be undertaken with a good conscience only from the safe distance of
imperfect knowledge.
Eric Voegelin, The New Science of Politics
The proper use of techniques, in so far as it can be taught, remains abstract
and devoid of necessary influence upon action; and, in so far as it
entertains an infallible relation to action, it cannot be taught. The fully
determinate and unmistakably effective knowledge of the right use is not
science, but prudence; it is acquired, not principally by reading books and
taking courses, but by practicing virtue. Whatever is scientific and
teachable in the knowledge of use admits of being ignored at the time of
action and of remaining without effect upon action. Moreover, the
knowledge of the right use, even in so far as it is scientific and teachable,
involves difficulties which render unlikely its uninterrupted maintenance
and continuous progress. In this respect the science of the proper use of
techniques—one function of ethics—resembles metaphysics rather than
positive science. Like metaphysics, the science of ethics possesses, in
history, the character of a rare and precarious achievement, more
threatened by decadence and oblivion than blessed with promise of
maintenance and progress.
Yves Simon, Philosophy of Democratic Government