HKB
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Often appears with: justice as a virtue · will, choice, and freedom · reason and the intellect · virtue by nature · virtue as operative habit · virtue and operation · unity of elements · truth and modesty · the passions and the emotions · the nature and attributes of God · stoic views of others’ power · species, variation, and descent
Usually: argument (4) · detachment (4) · exhortation (2) · reflection (1) · betrayal (1) · wonder (1)
“For it is in thy power, to do nothing against thine own proper God, and inward spirit. For it is not in any man's power to constrain thee to transgress against him.” Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, Meditations · insight
“Wherefore human virtue does not imply reference to being, but rather to act. Consequently it is essential to human virtue to be an operative habit.” Thomas, Aquinas, Saint, Summa Theologica, Part I-II (Pars Prima Secundae) · insight
“Have I done something for the general interest? Well then I have had my reward.” Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, Thoughts of Marcus Aurelius · observation
Marcus Aurelius explains that the rational soul can know, analyze, and shape itself toward its own end, and that it naturally loves neighbors and values truth and modesty above everything.
1. These are the properties of the rational soul: it sees itself, analyses itself, and makes itself such as it chooses; the fruit which it bears itself enjoys,—for the fruits of plants and that in animals which corresponds to fruits others enjoy,—it obtains its own end, wherever the limit of life may be fixed. Not as in a dance and in a play and in such like things, where the whole action is incomplete if anything cu…
Marcus Aurelius argues that all animal life shares one earth, one light, and one air, while among creatures without reason one life is distributed, and among rational animals one intelligent soul is distributed.
translation expresses the emperor's meaning. Whether intelligence rules all things or chance rules, a man must not be disturbed. He must use the power that he has and be tranquil. 40. Either the gods have no power or they have power. If, then, they have no power, why dost thou pray to them? But if they have power, why dost thou not pray for them to give thee the faculty of not fearing any of the things which thou fe…
He insists that one can always protect the inner “proper God” or spirit from being violated by others, and then prompts the reader to question what part of the soul is currently at work.
is in thy power, to do nothing against thine own proper God, and inward spirit. For it is not in any man's power to constrain thee to transgress against him. XI. What is the use that now at this present I make of my soul? Thus from time to time and upon all occasions thou must put this question to thyself; what is now that part of mine which they call the rational mistress part, employed about? Whose soul do I now p…
Aquinas argues that human virtue is essentially an operative habit: since human rational soul provides the form and principle of action, virtue disposes to acts rather than merely to being.
time. Now as natural virtue is in natural things, so is human virtue in rational beings. Therefore also human virtue is referred not only to act, but also to being. Obj. 3: Further, the Philosopher says (Phys. vii, text. 17) that virtue "is the disposition of a perfect thing to that which is best." Now the best thing to which man needs to be disposed by virtue is God Himself, as Augustine proves (De Moribus Eccl. 3,…
In Question 63’s First Article, Aquinas argues that virtue is natural only “inchoatively” by aptitude: reason instills principles and the will has a natural appetite, but full virtue requires perfection beyond nature.
(Q. 55, A. 4, ad 2). But that which accords with reason is natural to man; since reason is part of man's nature. Therefore virtue is in man by nature. Obj. 3: Further, that which is in us from birth is said to be natural to us. Now virtues are in some from birth: for it is written (Job 31:18): "From my infancy mercy grew up with me; and it came out with me from my mother's womb." Therefore virtue is in man by nature…