Aquinas vs Nietzsche
Views of Human Morality Aquinas vs. Nietzsche Human morality has been one of the main philosophical questions asked since Socrates. ... Thomas Aquinas and Friedrich Nietzsche. ... Aquinas a medieval philosopher who Christianized the philosophy of Aristotle, his thoughts of morality where grounded in faith of God. Nietzsche who has had an impact on modern day thought, he consider himself an immoralist and his thoughts of human morality where based on his idea that “God is dead”. ... Aquinas like Aristotle believed that happiness and morality were one in the same. Aquinas also believed that in the quest for happiness one must fulfill one’s purpose. Aquinas saw morality as playing a major role in one’s end both natural and supernatural. Since Aquinas was Christian, he thought human nature and morality had to end in God. Aquinas understood that it was only human nature for person’s body to have certain wants and needs. Like Plato Aquinas believes that appetite drives a person but it takes reason to control those appetites and Aquinas broke it down into two kinds irascible and concupiscent. ... Aquinas saw that irascible and concupiscent appetites controlled and direct behavior in animals. ... “Will” Aquinas thought played a major role in the decisions or choices humans made to seek out happiness. Aquinas felt will alone did not help people make the right choices with intelligence as the conductor the achievement would be a lot easier. ... Therefore, from this Aquinas thought that will is the compass pointing towards happiness and the moral good and that intelligence was the director, which leads to happiness in the end. Aquinas said morality consisted up of four things sensuality, appetites, will and intelligence. ... Freedom as Aquinas saw it was the basis of morality. ... Moral law according to Aquinas is base on human nature, simple inclinations and the ability to use reason to distinguish the right course of conduct. Aquinas came up with a theory of morality in which he based it on moral obligation he called it Natural Law. Aquinas thought that human nature required some of the simplest basis of life.