Study Guide for Exam #4
40 Point Exam; Same Rules

Part I: Definitions. In addition to the definitions for the previous exam, some of the following definitions may be included.

  1. The Four Aristotelian Causes (names & definitions)
    Hint:  They are on a handout.
  2. Degrees of Being & Degrees of Goodness
    Partial Answer:  x has goodness as an F to the degree that it successfully strives for perfectly actualizing the specifying capacities of an F.
  3. Metaphysical Evil vs. Moral Evil
    Hint:  evil is privation/deviation
  4. Voluntary Action (according to Aquinas)
    Complete Answer:  a voluntary action is an action of an agent moved by an internal principle, based on perfect knowledge, i.e. apprehension of the end as an end, chosen as a result of deliberation.
  5. Habit, Virtue, Vice
    Complete Answer:  Habit is a disposition whereby a thing is disposed well or ill in reference to its nature (ST IaIIae Q.49 a.2); a virtue is a good habit of the rational soul, by which we live well, which are never used badly, which God works in us without us (ST IaIIae Q.55 a.4); a vice is a bad havit of the rational soul, by which we live badly (ST IaIiae Q.71 aa.1-2).
  6. Sin, Mortal Sin, Venial Sin
    Complete Answer:  Sin is a word, deed or desire (by commission or omission) contrary to the Eternal Law (ST IaIIae Q.71 a.6); a moortal sin is a sin that is contrary to charity, a venial sin is a sin that is not contrary to charity (ST IaIIae Q.88 a.2)
  7. List the Components of a Human Being together with their goods
    Hint: I covered this when I was finishing The Meaning of Life.  There are three appetites (Natural, Sensitive [two components], Rational) and then there is Intellect [two components].  Also, to give you the idea of what I mean by "their goods", the good of the rational will is justice.
  8. List the Three Theological Virtues & which part of the soul each perfects
    Hint:  They are on a handout.
  9. List the Four Cardinal Virtues & which part of the soul each perfects
    Hint:  They are on a handout.
  10. List the Seven Capital Vices ("Seven Deadly Sins") & which part of the soul each corrupts
    Hint:  They are on a handout
  11. List either the "Gifts" or the "Beatitudes" or the "Fruits"
    Hint:  If you missed Jolene's presentation, find ST IaIIae QQ. 68-70 (I expect you to be able to read that abbreviation).  Also, notice the "or."

Part II: Short Answer. The following is a complete list of questions you may be asked to answer. I will give you a few questions from Par A, and a few from Part B.  You'll have to answer some from each part (you will have some choice as to which you answer).

Part A: The Meaning of Life

  1. How might Aquinas defend his "teleological ethics" from Deontological Objections?
    Hint: Think of the 10 Commandments.  They sure don't look like the 10 recommendations to make your life better.  Or are they?  If the Beatific Vision is the only way for you to be truly happy, and if violating any of the 10 Commandments is incompatible with Charity, then aren't you always necessarily better off following the 10 Commandments than violating them?
  2. How might Aquinas defend his "teleological ethics" from Utilitarian Objections?
    Hint:  Why care about utility?
  3. List the three steps of Aquinas' strategy to derive the virtues from the human telos.
    Hint: Telos = Good = Happiness = Beatitude; which requires perfection of your nature; which requires the virtues
  4. Critically assess Aquinas' argument that agents act for an end, i.e. there is teleology in nature.
    Hint:  You need to understand the concept of a "potentiality-differential for producing one effect rather than another."
  5. Explain why Aquinas thinks that being blind is evil, but not sinful or immoral.
    Hint:  There's a hint in the definitions that's relevant.
  6. Explain why Aquinas thinks that none of the following can make you truly happy: honor, glory, wealth, power.
    Hint: For this questions 8-11 you should understand Aquinas' division of goods SCG Chapter 37.  Also, in class I discussed the three repeated arguments: (1) the good is the last end, (2) the good is the highest good, (3) the good is stable and dependent upon the will.
  7. Explain why Aquinas thinks that none of the following can make you truly happy: health, beauty, strength.
  8. Explain why Aquinas thinks that pleasure cannot make you truly happy.
  9. Explain why Aquinas thinks that none of the following can make you truly happy: moral virtue, prudence, art.
  10. Explain why Aquinas thinks that faith, hope and charity are necessary for you to be truly happy.

Part B: Human Action

  1. According to Aquinas, why is it impossible to be dragged by force voluntarily?
    Hint: By "force" Aquinas does not mean "by muscles."
  2. According to Aquinas, which of the following cause involuntariness: violence to acts commanded by the will, fear, concupiscence, ignorance.
    Hint: See ST IaIIae Q.6 aa.5-8.  Also, his answer isn't always simply "yes" or "no."
  3. List and explain the nine steps in a human action according to Aquinas.
    Hint: For each of the nine steps, state whether it is something done by the will or by reason, and also state whether it relates to the end or to the means.  See ST IaIIae QQ.8-17.
  4. Give four examples of actions as follows: (a) the objective and the end are good, (b) the objective is good but the end is bad, (c) the objective is bad but the end is good, and (c) both are bad.
    Hint: See ST IaIIae Q.18
  5. Explain the formation, increase and corruption of habits (pick a particular virtue or vice).
    Hint: See ST IaIIae QQ.51-53
  6. Explain Aquinas' "Doctrine of the Mean" with respect to moral, intellectual or theological virtue
    Hint: See ST IaIIae Q.64
  7. Can you have one virtue w/o the others? Explain your agreement/disagreement with Aquinas.
    Hint: See ST IaIIae Q.65
  8. Can the Devil make you sin? Explain your agreement/disagreement with Aquinas.
    Hint: See ST IaIIae Q.80
  9. List and explain the components of Prudence
    Hint:  Pay close attention to Lucy Inghilterra on Tuesday.
  10. List and explain the components of Hope
    Hint: Pay close attention to Greg Bonin on Tuesday.

Note:  There will be extra credit in some form or other.