Aquinas †Wealth and Power Essay

In Question II, Thomas doubting Thomas breaks down the complex question of where or in what mans ecstasy consists, mainly by emphasizing richesinessiness and authority. While people woolgather of obtaining both wealth and violence in their life, Aquinas emphasizes that both atomic number 18 neither good nor bad, and both sustain up a means to an end. Aquinas argues that happiness does not consist in wealth or authority, yet presents another lean where he states that happiness foot, indeed, be associated with wealth and origin.Aquinas begins his second question and first article by pondering the question of whether happiness consists in wealth. He breaks down the two types of wealth into artificial and natural. He describes natural wealth as something that relieves mans natural needs, such as food, drink, clothing, travel, shelter and so on. In other words, natural wealth fulfills the needs of humans to live and cannot be mans ultimate end. On the other hand, artificial wealth is sought still for the sake of natural wealth. Augustine argues that a man would behave no artificial wealth unless he had natural wealth to begin with. With natural wealth, there is a finite amount of objects nonpareil needs in order to survive. For example, a person doesnt not need to buy some(prenominal) large pizzas to satisfy their hunger, just a few slices to get some food in their project and go on with their day. On the other hand, artificial wealth revolves around objects for which people have aeonian desires for, such as money.There are some people in society who feel that the only thing that matters in life is the amount of money you can earn before you die, just a dollar sign. However, money cannot buy happiness, wisdom, strong relationships, or virtue. Augustine backs up this point by quoting Proverbs 1716 What does it avail a fool to have riches, seeing he cannot buy wisdom? Aquinas takes into answer for the arguments that say that happiness can, in fact , consist of riches by offering examples such as any things obey money (Ecclesiastes 1019). Although he covers both possible sides, he offers his own stance on the question in his response where he covers the differences between artificial and natural wealth.In Aquinas ordinal article, he discusses the question of whether happiness consists in power. He argues that it is impossible to have happiness in power for two reasons. The first is that power has the nature of a principle, whereas happiness has the nature of an ultimate end, emphasizing that power is a means to an end. Second, he states that power is both good and evil and happiness is the proper and staring(a) good of man. Although the hook for a popular song, the quote no one man should have all told that power uniquely resonates in Aquinas argument against happiness consisting of power. People may believe that if they have a greater sense of power, then they feel more important and happier. The more powerful individual grows, the greater their fear grows of losing the very power they obsess over.A classic example from history is Joseph Stalins command over Russia. He was given so much power on behalf of the communist USSR that he let his sense of power overcome him. When he had caught word that there was someone planning a revolution in his cabinet, he had every single one of his high commanding officers killed. Very simply, power makes people do very abnormal things to remain in their high position. However, Aquinas argues that power cant solve every problem in a persons life. To quote Og Mandino, alone the gold in the world cannot buy a dying man one more pinch so what does that make today worth? This quote accurately depicts that no matter how much power and wealth someone has, it all means nothing when you are facing death. Although one may count highly satisfied with the power he possess, it is easily revocable and those with power fear they will support it.Aquinas presents that questions of whether happiness consists of wealth and power and presents firm arguments against each. Although he may find faults with each idea, especially the warnings of the abundant use of wealth and power, his idea still remains that both wealth and power are neither good nor bad things. For example, if a man is making enough money to feed his family and make a living for himself, that is a fine example of using wealth for good. However, Aquinas reminds us of the arguments against having wealth and power makes up a persons overall happiness. Using both of these values for happiness is simply a means to an end, Thomas Aquinas emphasizes that these things do not lead to everlasting happiness, an argument that I agree with.