The Four Cardinal Virtues of St. Thomas Aquinas and the How it is Integrated. St.

Thomas Aquinas recognizes our rationality, and that it was endowed to us by the Supreme Being, our creator. He argued that we have four types of causes as adopted by him from Aristotle. In fact, almost all of the ideas of Aquinas were actually adopted by him from Aristotle. The four types of causes of every being are material cause, efficient cause, formal cause and the final cause. The final cause is the most important of all causes since the moment that a being exist, the final cause is the very focus of that being. The final cause refers to the final purpose of being. With regard to human being, our final cause is to be with God according to Aquinas. To be with God is simple indeed. However, there must be a particular means of achieving such cause. To be with God is to be eternally satisfied of being as such. To be with God is the fulfillment of ones genuine happiness. Hence, Aquinas as adopted from the ideas of Aristotle, argues that we must follow the four cardinal virtues. These four cardinal virtues, historically speaking, came from the words and virtues taught by the mentor of Aristotle, Plato. It can be observed in the Republic of Plato, his ideal state. Acting harmoniously is one of the foundations of Platos State, and acting harmoniously refers to acting on your duty as appointed by the Philosopher Kings. The State of Plato and the Virtues of Aristotle-as adopted by Aquinas- refers to temperance, courage, fortitude and justice. These cardinal virtues do not exist simultaneously to person because these temperaments are only available to particular cases that it can be availed. Yet one person can maintain these temperaments and manifest the same by integrating those virtues through wisdom. Wisdom is the key. Many philosophers and historians argued that the most important of all things to be studied and to be used in a well manner is to study it with wisdom. Wisdom is far different from knowledge. Wisdom is good in itself. It is used to remedy things. Knowledge on the other hand may not be at all times good. Analogy of the difference is the government in ancient Greece and Socrates the philosopher. The government is well known to be knowledgeable at almost all of the things that Socrates cannot match the same for weighing their knowledge in a State. However, their knowledge as it is not universally and unconditionally as well as totally good, knowledge may serve as an advantage to trample the inferiority of other things. In wisdom, take for instance is the predicaments of Socrates, his wisdom tried to reveal a deeper truth, a vivid reality although not scientifically, but it nourished the human mind toward philosophical and wise inquiries.

Manolo Ricardo S. Velacruz