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Single Idea 1846
[filed under theme 20. Action / B. Preliminaries of Action / 2. Willed Action / a. Will to Act
]
Full Idea
Will's object is what is good, and so it cannot will anything but what is good.
Gist of Idea
The will can only want what it thinks is good
Source
Thomas Aquinas (Quaestiones Disputatae de Malo [1271], Q6.06)
Book Ref
Aquinas,Thomas: 'Selected Philosophical Writings', ed/tr. McDermott,Timothy [OUP 1993], p.172
The
109 ideas
from Thomas Aquinas
22115
|
Wise people should contemplate and discuss the truth, and fight against falsehood
[Aquinas]
|
15202
|
Eternity coexists with passing time, as the centre of a circle coexists with its circumference
[Aquinas]
|
20700
|
Without God's influence every operation would stop, so God causes everything
[Aquinas]
|
13090
|
The principle of diversity for corporeal substances is their matter
[Aquinas, by Cover/O'Leary-Hawthorne]
|
13070
|
If definitions must be general, and general terms can't individuate, then Socrates can't be defined
[Aquinas, by Cover/O'Leary-Hawthorne]
|
11205
|
If the form of 'human' contains 'many', Socrates isn't human; if it contains 'one', Socrates is Plato
[Aquinas]
|
11206
|
The mind constructs complete attributions, based on the unified elements of the real world
[Aquinas]
|
11207
|
A cause can exist without its effect, but the effect cannot exist without its cause
[Aquinas]
|
11208
|
A simple substance is its own essence
[Aquinas]
|
11196
|
Essence is something in common between the natures which sort things into categories
[Aquinas]
|
11197
|
The definitions expressing identity are used to sort things
[Aquinas]
|
11195
|
If affirmative propositions express being, we affirm about what is absent
[Aquinas]
|
11198
|
Definition of essence makes things understandable
[Aquinas]
|
11200
|
The definition of a physical object must include the material as well as the form
[Aquinas]
|
11201
|
Properties have an incomplete essence, with definitions referring to their subject
[Aquinas]
|
11202
|
It is by having essence that things exist
[Aquinas]
|
11203
|
Specific individual essence is defined by material, and generic essence is defined by form
[Aquinas]
|
22101
|
Philosophy aims to know the truth about the way things are
[Aquinas]
|
16655
|
Different genera are delimited by modes of predication, which rest on modes of being
[Aquinas]
|
1863
|
If the soul achieves well-being in another life, it doesn't follow that I do
[Aquinas]
|
22109
|
The fullest knowledge places a conclusion within an accurate theory
[Aquinas, by Kretzmann/Stump]
|
17555
|
'One' can mean undivided and not a multitude, or it can add measurement, giving number
[Aquinas]
|
16766
|
One thing needs a single thing to unite it; if there were two forms, something must unite them
[Aquinas]
|
1846
|
The will can only want what it thinks is good
[Aquinas]
|
1847
|
The will must aim at happiness, but can choose the means
[Aquinas]
|
1848
|
We are coerced into assent to a truth by reason's violence
[Aquinas]
|
1856
|
Nothing can be willed except what is good, but good is very varied, and so choices are unpredictable
[Aquinas]
|
1857
|
We don't have to will even perfect good, because we can choose not to think of it
[Aquinas]
|
1858
|
The mind is compelled by necessary truths, but not by contingent truths
[Aquinas]
|
1859
|
Even a sufficient cause doesn't compel its effect, because interference could interrupt the process
[Aquinas]
|
1860
|
Knowledge may be based on senses, but we needn't sense all our knowledge
[Aquinas]
|
1861
|
The will is not compelled to move, even if pleasant things are set before it
[Aquinas]
|
1862
|
However habituated you are, given time to ponder you can go against a habit
[Aquinas]
|
1853
|
Because the will moves by examining alternatives, it doesn't compel itself to will
[Aquinas]
|
1852
|
For the mind Good is one truth among many, and Truth is one good among many
[Aquinas]
|
1855
|
If we saw something as totally and utterly good, we would be compelled to will it
[Aquinas]
|
1854
|
We must admit that when the will is not willing something, the first movement to will must come from outside the will
[Aquinas]
|
1850
|
Without free will not only is ethical action meaningless, but also planning, commanding, praising and blaming
[Aquinas]
|
1851
|
Good applies to goals, just as truth applies to ideas in the mind
[Aquinas]
|
1849
|
Since will is a reasoning power, it can entertain opposites, so it is not compelled to embrace one of them
[Aquinas]
|
22104
|
Truth is the conformity of being to intellect
[Aquinas]
|
22103
|
Being is basic to thought, and all other concepts are additions to being
[Aquinas]
|
22168
|
Minds take in a likeness of things, which activates an awaiting potential
[Aquinas]
|
22170
|
Senses grasp external properties, but the understanding grasps the essential natures of things
[Aquinas]
|
22169
|
Initial universal truths are present within us as potential, to be drawn out by reason
[Aquinas]
|
16641
|
Whiteness does not exist, but by it something can exist-as-white
[Aquinas]
|
16711
|
Heretics should be eradicated like wolves
[Aquinas]
|
22102
|
Arguing with opponents uncovers truths, and restrains falsehoods
[Aquinas]
|
22107
|
Sensations are transmitted to 'internal senses' in the brain, chiefly to 'phantasia' and 'imagination'
[Aquinas, by Kretzmann/Stump]
|
22111
|
Aquinas attributes freedom to decisions and judgements, and not to the will alone
[Aquinas, by Kretzmann/Stump]
|
20211
|
Life aims at the Beatific Vision - of perfect happiness, and revealed truth
[Aquinas, by Zagzebski]
|
22106
|
Aquinas saw angels as separated forms, rather than as made of 'spiritual matter'
[Aquinas, by Kretzmann/Stump]
|
5614
|
If you assume that there must be a necessary being, you can't say which being has this quality
[Kant on Aquinas]
|
8009
|
Aquinas wanted, not to escape desire, but to transform it for moral ends
[Aquinas, by MacIntyre]
|
5508
|
Aquinas says a fertilized egg is not human, and has no immortal soul
[Aquinas, by Martin/Barresi]
|
21251
|
We can't know God's essence, so his existence can't be self-evident for us
[Aquinas]
|
21250
|
A proposition is self-evident if the predicate is included in the essence of the subject
[Aquinas]
|
21249
|
Some things are self-evident to us; others are only self-evident in themselves
[Aquinas]
|
21248
|
If the existence of truth is denied, the 'Truth does not exist' must be true!
[Aquinas]
|
9092
|
Abstracting A from B generates truth, as long as the connection is not denied
[Aquinas]
|
9093
|
We understand the general nature of things by ignoring individual peculiarities
[Aquinas]
|
9097
|
The mind abstracts generalities from images, but also uses images for understanding
[Aquinas]
|
9095
|
Very general ideas (being, oneness, potentiality) can be abstracted from thought matter in general
[Aquinas]
|
9096
|
The mind must produce by its own power an image of the individual species
[Aquinas]
|
9094
|
Mathematical objects abstract both from perceived matter, and from particular substance
[Aquinas]
|
9099
|
Particular instances come first, and (pace Plato) generalisations are abstracted from them
[Aquinas]
|
9098
|
Mental activity combines what we sense with imagination of what is not present
[Aquinas]
|
15812
|
Being implies distinctness, which implies division, unity, and multitude
[Aquinas]
|
23306
|
Humans have a non-physical faculty of reason, so they can be immortal
[Aquinas, by Sorabji]
|
22399
|
Temperance prevents our passions from acting against reason
[Aquinas]
|
22112
|
For humans good is accordance with reason, and bad is contrary to reason
[Aquinas]
|
22114
|
Tyrannical laws are irrational, and so not really laws
[Aquinas]
|
22113
|
Right and wrong actions pertain to natural law, as perceived by practical reason
[Aquinas]
|
16687
|
Bodies are three-dimensional substances
[Aquinas]
|
16765
|
Humans only have a single substantial form, which contains the others and acts for them
[Aquinas]
|
21337
|
A knowing being possesses a further reality, the 'presence' of the thing known
[Aquinas]
|
21266
|
God does not exist, because He is infinite and good, and so no evil should be discoverable
[Aquinas]
|
21274
|
It is part of God's supreme goodness that He brings good even out of evil
[Aquinas]
|
21268
|
Non-human things are explicable naturally, and voluntary things by the will, so God is not needed
[Aquinas]
|
21267
|
Supposing many principles is superfluous if a few will do it
[Aquinas]
|
21269
|
Way 1: the infinite chain of potential-to-actual movement has to have a first mover
[Aquinas]
|
21271
|
Way 3: contingent beings eventually vanish, so continuity needs a necessary being
[Aquinas]
|
21270
|
Way 2: no effect without a cause, and this cannot go back to infinity, so there is First Cause
[Aquinas]
|
21272
|
Way 4: the source of all qualities is their maximum, so something (God) causes all perfections
[Aquinas]
|
21273
|
Way 5: mindless things act towards an obvious end, so there is an intelligent director
[Aquinas]
|
22105
|
The human intellectual soul is an incorporeal, subsistent principle
[Aquinas]
|
22108
|
First grasp what it is, then its essential features; judgement is their compounding and division
[Aquinas]
|
7291
|
For Aquinas a war must be in a just cause, have proper authority, and aim at good
[Aquinas, by Grayling]
|
23173
|
If a syllogism admits one absurdity, others must follow
[Aquinas]
|
20224
|
Sensation prepares the way for intellectual knowledge, which needs the virtues of reason
[Aquinas]
|
23174
|
Natural law is a rational creature's participation in eternal law
[Aquinas]
|
23175
|
The conclusions of speculative reason about necessities are certain
[Aquinas]
|
23176
|
Truth is universal, but knowledge of it is not
[Aquinas]
|
4412
|
Those in bliss have their happiness increased by seeing the damned punished
[Aquinas]
|
22494
|
We must know the end, know that it is the end, and know how to attain it
[Aquinas]
|
23177
|
Justice directs our relations with others, because it denotes a kind of equality
[Aquinas]
|
23178
|
Divine law commands some things because they are good, while others are good because commanded
[Aquinas]
|
23179
|
People differ in their social degrees, and a particular type of right applies to each
[Aquinas]
|
23180
|
The will is the rational appetite
[Aquinas]
|
23181
|
All acts of virtue relate to justice, which is directed towards the common good
[Aquinas]
|
23182
|
Legal justice is supreme, because it directs the other virtues to the common good
[Aquinas]
|
20621
|
Types of lying: Speak lies, intend lies, intend deception, aim at deceptive goal?
[Aquinas, by Tuckness/Wolf]
|
10505
|
We can just think of an apple's colour, because the apple is not part of the colour's nature
[Aquinas]
|
10504
|
Abstracting either treats something as separate, or thinks of it separately
[Aquinas]
|
10503
|
We abstract forms from appearances, and acquire knowledge of immaterial things
[Aquinas]
|
10507
|
Numbers and shapes are abstracted by ignoring their sensible qualities
[Aquinas]
|
10506
|
Mathematics can be abstracted from sensible matter, and from individual intelligible matter
[Aquinas]
|
10508
|
Species are abstracted from appearances by ignoring individual conditions
[Aquinas]
|
10509
|
Understanding consists entirely of grasping abstracted species
[Aquinas]
|