Freedom (Aquinas 101)

Summary

This script explores the concept of human freedom through the lens of St. Thomas Aquinas, contrasting it with the modern view of freedom as the absence of constraints. Aquinas posits that the will is fundamentally a faculty of desiring good, and true freedom is realized when one's will is aligned with God, the ultimate end of human flourishing. The script delves into how pursuing lesser goods can limit our freedom, while grace from God can elevate our will to seek the Supreme Good, thus fulfilling our true purpose.

Takeaways

• 😇 God's grace can move us freely to make acts of faith, hope, and love, which may seem contradictory to the modern understanding of freedom.
• 🔄 The modern view of freedom is often about choosing without constraint, which is a partial and misleading description of human action according to Aquinas.
• 🤔 Aquinas posits that every choice we make is aimed at something we perceive as good, emphasizing the will as a faculty of desiring or loving, not just choosing.
• 🏆 Our lives are not just a series of individual choices but are part of larger projects aimed at achieving certain goals, which shape our free choices.
• 🏋️‍♂️ The example of a student pursuing a degree or an athlete training for the Olympics illustrates how our will is focused on the end goal and chooses actions that lead to it.
• 🌟 Aquinas argues that freedom emerges from the will's desire for an end perceived as good, leading to the choice of fitting actions to achieve that end.
• 🚧 The modern understanding of freedom can limit our lives by focusing on unworthy ends, such as money or fame, which do not lead to true happiness.
• 💊 Aquinas warns that choosing unworthy ends can lead to a form of enslavement, as exemplified by the analogy of repeatedly choosing to use heroin.
• 🕊️ True happiness and fulfillment come from God, who is the ultimate end capable of satisfying all our desires, according to Aquinas.
• 🛐 God's grace can freely move us towards the highest good, which is eternal life with God, beyond our natural capacity but made possible through Christ's sacraments.
• 📚 The script encourages further exploration of Aquinas's teachings through resources available at Aquinas101.com, including free video courses.

Q & A

What is the modern understanding of freedom as described in the script?

The modern understanding of freedom is often about choosing without constraint and opting for whatever one determines. It involves choosing between contraries without external influence, which is seen as limiting or diminishing freedom.

How does St. Thomas Aquinas view human freedom differently from the modern perspective?

Aquinas views human freedom as more than just choosing between options. He believes that the will is a faculty of desiring or loving, and that our choices are driven by what we perceive as good, aiming at our ultimate end.

According to Aquinas, what is the fundamental feature of the will?

The fundamental feature of the will, according to Aquinas, is that it is a rational appetite that desires or loves the good. It is not just about choosing between options but about desiring the end that is perceived as good.

What does Aquinas suggest about the nature of human life and choices?

Aquinas suggests that human life is not a series of individual choices but is engaged in larger projects with goals. Our choices are made in service of these goals, aiming at what we perceive as good for us.

How does Aquinas define the ultimate end for human beings?

Aquinas defines the ultimate end for human beings as dwelling in eternal life with God. He believes that only God can satisfy all our desires and make us truly happy, which is the true reason for our freedom.

What is the relationship between our will and our freedom according to the script?

The script suggests that our freedom emerges from the will as it desires some end as good. Our will, in some measure, wills for itself whatever our minds grasp as good, leading us to freely choose actions that align with our desired end.

Why does Aquinas believe that pursuing money, power, fame, or honor as ultimate ends will not lead to true happiness?

Aquinas believes that these things, if made the ultimate end, will not lead to true happiness because they are not consistent with human flourishing or happiness. They are not worthy of the human creature made in the image of God.

What does Aquinas say about the nature of sin and its effect on our will?

Aquinas says that every act of sin is like taking heroin; it turns us away from God, our true good, and makes us increasingly unfree. Our wills become chained to desires that are not worthy of us, reducing the scope of the human person.

How does Aquinas view the role of God's grace in our freedom?

Aquinas views God's grace as a gift that can freely move us to desire and choose to love God above all things. It allows us to experience our freedom in its full amplitude, to know and love the Supreme Good for its own sake.

What is the highest good of the human person according to Aquinas?

The highest good of the human person, according to Aquinas, is to dwell in eternal life with God. This is infinitely above our natural capacity but is made possible through God's grace.

How can one deepen their understanding of Aquinas' teachings as mentioned in the script?

One can deepen their understanding of Aquinas' teachings by visiting Aquinas101.com for readings, podcasts, and more videos. They can also sign up for free video courses on Aquinas and engage with the content by liking and sharing.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Aquinas on Human Freedom and the Will

This paragraph explores the concept of human freedom as understood by St. Thomas Aquinas, contrasting it with the modern notion of freedom as the absence of constraints. Aquinas posits that our will is not merely about choosing between options but is fundamentally a faculty of desire, aiming at what we perceive as good. He emphasizes that our choices are part of larger projects and goals, which are integral to our flourishing. The paragraph also touches on the idea that pursuing ends that are not truly good for us, such as money or fame, can limit our freedom and lead to frustration, whereas aligning our will with what truly leads to human flourishing is essential for experiencing the full extent of our freedom.

05:02

🌟 The Ultimate End of Human Freedom: God

In this paragraph, the discussion shifts to the ultimate end of human freedom according to Aquinas, which is to know and love God. It explains that only God can satisfy all our desires and provide complete happiness, making Him our final end. The paragraph discusses how pursuing God aligns with our natural inclination towards good and how sin, likened to addiction, can enchain our will to lesser goods, thus reducing our freedom. It also highlights the role of God's grace in enabling us to desire and choose God above all else, which is the highest expression of our freedom and the path to true happiness. The paragraph concludes with an invitation to explore more about Aquinas's teachings through resources provided at Aquinas101.com.

Keywords

💡Grace

Grace, in the context of the video, refers to the unmerited favor of God towards human beings. It is the divine influence that can move individuals to perform acts of faith, hope, and love. The video emphasizes that God's grace is not seen as a contradiction to human freedom but rather as a facilitator of it, allowing individuals to freely choose actions that align with their ultimate good.

💡Freedom

Freedom, as discussed in the video, is a central theme and is contrasted between the modern understanding and Aquinas's perspective. Modern freedom is often viewed as the ability to choose without constraints, while Aquinas offers a deeper view where freedom is the ability to pursue what one perceives as good. The video suggests that true freedom is realized when one's will is aligned with the ultimate good, which is God.

💡Will

The will is presented as a fundamental aspect of human action, described by Aquinas as a 'rational appetite' that desires the good. It is not merely about choosing between options but is more fundamentally about desiring and loving what one perceives as good. The will's focus on the ultimate end, as guided by God's grace, is what allows true freedom to flourish.

💡Desire

Desire is closely linked to the will and is portrayed as a driving force behind human actions. In the video, it is suggested that our desires lead us to choose actions that we perceive as good for us. Desire is what moves the will towards the ultimate end, which, according to Aquinas, is God.

💡Human Flourishing

Human flourishing, or happiness, is depicted as the ultimate goal of human life. The video argues that some goals pursued by individuals may lead to frustration rather than true happiness. Aquinas believes that only God can provide the ultimate satisfaction that leads to human flourishing, which is the true purpose of our freedom.

💡Sin

Sin is presented as an act that turns individuals away from God, who is their true good. The video likens sin to an addiction, such as using heroin, which chains the will to desires that are not worthy of a human being made in the image of God. Sin restricts the scope of human freedom by focusing on partial, created things.

💡Intellect

Intellect is mentioned as a power that God has given humans to freely know Him. It is through the intellect that we can understand and apprehend the good, which in turn influences our will. The video suggests that the intellect plays a crucial role in recognizing God as the ultimate end of human freedom.

💡Natural Goods

Natural goods are those goods that God has ordered humans towards, which can lead to natural happiness. Examples given in the video include friendship, family life, and living virtuously. These goods are part of our natural capacity and are seen as means to achieve a measure of natural happiness.

💡Supernatural Charity

Supernatural charity refers to the love of God that transcends natural human capacity. It is a gift of grace that enables humans to love God above all things. The video explains that through supernatural charity, individuals can experience the full amplitude of their freedom by loving the Supreme Good for its own sake.

💡Eternal Life

Eternal life with God is presented as the highest good of the human person, which is infinitely above our natural capacity. The video suggests that through God's grace, humans can be moved to desire and choose eternal life, which is the ultimate end and the fulfillment of human freedom.

💡Aquinas101.com

Aquinas101.com is mentioned in the video as a resource for further learning about St. Thomas Aquinas's teachings. It offers readings, podcasts, and video courses, which are intended to help viewers deepen their understanding of Aquinas's philosophy and theology.

Highlights

God's grace can move us to make acts of faith, hope, and love, which some may see as contradictory to the concept of free will.

The modern view of freedom as choosing without constraint is contrasted with Aquinas's deeper understanding of human freedom.

Aquinas argues that every choice is aimed at something regarded as good, highlighting the will as a faculty of desiring or loving.

The will is described as a rational appetite, desiring the good grasped by the mind.

Our lives consist of larger projects and goals, not just individual choices.

Freedom emerges from the will's desire for an end, leading to the choice of fitting actions.

Aquinas distinguishes between ends that lead to human flourishing and those that lead to frustration.

Pursuing money, power, fame, or honor as ultimate ends may not lead to true happiness.

True freedom and happiness are found in God, who can satisfy all our desires completely.

Sins are likened to addictions, turning us away from God and chaining our wills to unworthy desires.

God has ordered us to natural goods that can lead to natural happiness, such as friendship and family life.

The highest good for humans is eternal life with God, which surpasses natural capacity but is attainable through grace.

Grace enables us to desire and choose to love God above all things, which is the full amplitude of our freedom.

Aquinas101.com offers resources for further learning about Aquinas's teachings.

Free video courses on Aquinas are available for those interested in deepening their understanding.

Encouragement to like, share, and engage with the content because thoughts and beliefs matter.

Transcripts

How is it possible that God's grace can move us freely to make saving acts of

faith, hope, and love?

Isn't this simply a contradiction?

The modern presupposition is that it is simply incompatible with freedom for our will to

be moved, even moved by God.

But, Aquinas has an older and, in fact, much richer and deeper account of human freedom.

We need to unpack it a little bit.

First, the modern understanding.

Freedom in a modern understanding often means to choose without constraint, to opt for whatever

I determine.

Or to put it a little more technically, to choose between contraries.

So, I walk into a restaurant and I look at the menu.

I have a range of possibilities before me.

I could eat chicken, or beef, or even fish, and I opt for whatever I choose.

If anyone tells me what to choose or pushes me to choose one option rather than another,

then it seems like my freedom has been limited or diminished.

Now, this modern understanding of the nature of freedom is only partial.

Aquinas would say it's a misleading description of human action.

So by thinking with Aquinas, we can go deeper in understanding the human will and thus,

human freedom.

St. Thomas Aquinas would say, "In every choice we make we're aiming at something that we

regard as good.

If we don't regard something as good and at least some respect, we'll never choose it."

Our will, therefore, is not primarily a faculty of choosing of opting between contraries.

Choice is only one of the acts of the will.

The more fundamental feature of the will is that it is a faculty of desiring or even of

loving.

The will is a rational appetite, and it desires, it hungers for the good.

Whatever our minds grasp as good for me, especially as good for me here and now, that is what

I will, in some measure, will for myself.

Further, we see that our lives are not simply a series of one individual choice after another.

Yesterday, I chose beef. Today, I choose fish.

In fact, we engage in larger projects.

We aim at some goal, and we make many choices in order to arrive at it.

So, for example, a student who's going off to university is aiming at obtaining a degree.

So, she makes many individual choices in service of that goal.

She registers for her classes; she buys her books; she studies for her exams.

An athlete who wants to compete in the Olympics, he'll get up early in the morning in order

to train.

He might lift weights, eat a special diet.

Even if sometimes he doesn't feel like doing those things, he still chooses to do them

because his mind apprehends his training as good in view of his end competing in the Olympics.

So, he chooses those things freely because his will is focused on the end and regards

this training as a good means, or the best means, to get to what he desires.

So if we think about this, we begin to see that freedom, or our act of free choice, is

something that emerges from the will as it desires some end as good.

In view of what we desire, we freely choose a fitting action that will lead us to our

end.

Aquinas would tell us at this point to step back and look at the many ends or goals that

human beings can set for themselves and the many individual choices they might make to

reach those ends.

Some ends are consistent with human flourishing or happiness, but there are other goals that

we might mistakenly set out to pursue, but that will only lead us to frustration.

Aquinas thinks, for example, that pursuing money or power or fame or honor, if you make

it your ultimate end, these things, they will not make you truly happy.

Whenever we choose a course of action in pursuit of some end that's unworthy of us, something

that's not leading us to our true flourishing, we are in a sense acting freely--

yes, it's true--

but also in truth, the more we hide away from what's truly good for us, the more limited

our lives become.

It's possible for you freely to choose to use heroin, for example, the first time you

use it.

But as you make the choice again and again, most people will find themselves increasingly

unfree.

Their will will become chained to this desire, and it's a desire that's not worthy of the

human creature made in the image of God.

What will make us truly happy?

In the final analysis, only God is sufficient to quell all our desires, to satisfy us completely

so there's nothing more left to desire.

So, only God can be our final end, Aquinas says.

This is the true reason for our freedom, and the only way for our freedom to reach its

full amplitude and power.

We have the powers of intellect and will so that in this life, we would freely know God

by faith and love him by supernatural charity.

But if we use those powers in order to pursue something incompatible with God, then we're

in fact reducing the scope of the human person.

We are enchaining our wills so that they'll be addicted to what is not good for us.

According to Aquinas, every act of sin is a bit like taking heroin.

It turns us away from God, our true good and the only one who can make us truly happy.

And what is more, our wills then become focused on some partial created thing--pleasure or

money or honor or our own selves--in such a way that we become chained to these things,

fixated on them.

Indeed, in creating us, God has already ordered us to certain natural goods, which can lead

us to some measure of natural happiness.

Things like the good of friendship, family life, of knowing the truth, living well, and

according to virtue, the desires for these things are natural to human beings and our

nature is--in principle--capable of freely choosing the natural means that will lead

us towards them.

But, the highest good of the human person is to dwell in eternal life with God.

This is something that is infinitely above our natural capacity, but God, by the gift

of his grace that comes to us from Christ, can freely move us to desire and to choose

to love God above all things, to believe the words of Christ, to entrust ourselves to the

power of his sacraments, to profess the faith of the church.

When we do these things, we are in fact experiencing what our freedom was made for in its full

amplitude to know, and thus, to love the Supreme good for its own sake.

For readings, podcasts, and more videos like this, go to Aquinas101.com.

While you're there, be sure to sign up for one of our free video courses on Aquinas.

And don't forget to like and share with your friends, because it matters what you think!