HKB
3 passages · search this phrase →
Often appears with: justice as a virtue · treatise on habits · temperance and self-mastery · severity of sins · science and deception · prodigality vs covetousness · possible intellect · moderation, luxury, and excess · intrinsic principles · habit and power · false reason corrupts science · equity, mercy, and pardon
Usually: detachment (3) · commentary or gloss (2) · argument (1)
“A form is said to be corrupted directly by its contrary; indirectly, through its subject being corrupted.” Thomas, Aquinas, Saint, Summa Theologica, Part I-II (Pars Prima Secundae) · insight
In starting the treatise on habits (QQ. 49-54), Aquinas explains that after acts and passions he will examine the principles of acts, especially intrinsic habits and virtues.
*On the contrary,* Gregory says (Moral. v, 30) that "when anger does not vent itself outwardly by the lips, inwardly it burns the more fiercely." *I answer that,* As stated above (A. 3; Q. 46, A. 4), anger both follows an act of reason, and hinders the reason: and in both respects it may cause taciturnity. On the part of the reason, when the judgment of reason prevails so far, that although it does not curb the appe…
Aquinas explains that habits with corruptible subjects can be corrupted, but those rooted in incorruptible principles are not directly corrupted; however, science can be corrupted by false reasoning and virtue by contrary judgment.
reason neither can habits of virtue be corrupted, since they also are in the rational soul, and, as the Philosopher declares (Ethic. i, 10), "virtue is more lasting than learning." *On the contrary,* The Philosopher says (De Long. et Brev. Vitae ii) that "forgetfulness and deception are the corruption of science." Moreover, by sinning a man loses a habit of virtue: and again, virtues are engendered and corrupted by …
Thomas argues that prodigality is less grievous than covetousness: it most differs less from virtue, harms fewer badly, helps many by giving, and is easier to cure and even turn into virtue.
Whether Prodigality Is a More Grievous Sin Than Covetousness? Objection 1: It seems that prodigality is a more grievous sin than covetousness. For by covetousness a man injures his neighbor by not communicating his goods to him, whereas by prodigality a man injures himself, because the Philosopher says (Ethic. iv, 1) that "the wasting of riches, which are the means whereby a man lives, is an undoing of his very bein…