2.1.3
St Thomas Aquinas - Real & Apparent Goods
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Real and Apparent Goods
Aquinas uses the concept of real and apparent goods to explain why evil occurs.
What is an apparent good?
- An apparent good is when someone makes a wrong decision because they fail to apply reason correctly.
- They are not intentionally pursuing the wrong action. They have just made a mistake about what they think is the right thing to.
The dangers of apparent goods
- An apparent good can be very tempting. So humans must recognise an apparent good from a real good.
- For example, you may want to sit and watch Netflix all day before an exam. But this is an apparent good. The real good would be to study and prepare for your exam thoroughly as it will shape your future.
Sin - pursuit of apparent goods
- For Aquinas, sin exists because humans give into temptation and pursue apparent goods instead of real goods.
Doctrine of double effect
- Aquinas’ doctrine of double effect accepts that one action may have more than one effect and that sometimes, the effect may be bad.
- For example, a pregnant woman whose embryo is developing outside of the womb (an ectopic pregnancy) undergoes a procedure to save her life.
- The primary aim of the procedure is to save the life of the mother; a secondary effect is that the pregnancy is terminated.
- Aquinas would accept that a bad effect has come out of good action, but that this is unintentional.
1Philosophy of Religion
1.1Ancient Philosophical Influences: Plato
1.2Ancient Philosophical Influences: Aristotle
1.3Ancient Philosophical Influences: Soul, Mind, Body
1.4The Existence of God - Arguments from Observation
1.5The Existence of God - Arguments from Reason
1.6Religious Experience
1.7The Problem of Evil
1.8The Nature & Attributes of God
1.9Religious Language: Negative, Analogical, Symbolic
2Religion & Ethics
2.1Natural Law
2.2Situation Ethics
2.3Kantian Ethics
2.4Utilitarianism
2.5Euthanasia
2.6Business Ethics
2.7Meta-Ethical Theories
2.8Conscience
3Developments in Christian Thought
3.1Saint Augustine's Teachings
3.2Death & the Afterlife
3.3Knowledge of God's Existence
3.4The Person of Jesus Christ
3.5Christian Moral Principles
3.6Christian Moral Action
3.7Development - Pluralism & Theology
3.8Development - Pluralism & Society
3.9Gender & Society
3.10Gender & Theology
Jump to other topics
1Philosophy of Religion
1.1Ancient Philosophical Influences: Plato
1.2Ancient Philosophical Influences: Aristotle
1.3Ancient Philosophical Influences: Soul, Mind, Body
1.4The Existence of God - Arguments from Observation
1.5The Existence of God - Arguments from Reason
1.6Religious Experience
1.7The Problem of Evil
1.8The Nature & Attributes of God
1.9Religious Language: Negative, Analogical, Symbolic
2Religion & Ethics
2.1Natural Law
2.2Situation Ethics
2.3Kantian Ethics
2.4Utilitarianism
2.5Euthanasia
2.6Business Ethics
2.7Meta-Ethical Theories
2.8Conscience
3Developments in Christian Thought
3.1Saint Augustine's Teachings
3.2Death & the Afterlife
3.3Knowledge of God's Existence
3.4The Person of Jesus Christ
3.5Christian Moral Principles
3.6Christian Moral Action
3.7Development - Pluralism & Theology
3.8Development - Pluralism & Society
3.9Gender & Society
3.10Gender & Theology
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