Aquinas - Wealth and Power Essay Example for Free

doubting doubting Thomas Wealth and Power EssayIn Question II, doubting Thomas Aquinas breaks down the complex question of where or in what homophiles happiness populates, mainly by emphasizing wealth and king. While people dream of obtaining both wealth and index finger in their life, Aquinas emphasizes that both are neither good nor bad, and both make up a mean to an end. Aquinas argues that happiness does not consist in wealth or occasion, yet presents an different(prenominal) argument where he states that happiness can, indeed, be associated with wealth and power.Aquinas puzzles his second question and first word by pondering the question of whether happiness consists in wealth. He breaks down the two types of wealth into painted and infixed. He describes natural wealth as something that relieves mans natural needs, such as food, drink, clothing, travel, cling to and so on. In other words, natural wealth fulfills the needs of humans to live and cannot be mans u ltimate end. On the other hand, artificial wealth is sought only for the sake of natural wealth. Augustine argues that a man would cook no artificial wealth unless he had natural wealth to begin with. With natural wealth, there is a finite derive of objects one needs in order to survive. For example, a soulfulness doesnt not need to demoralise several large pizzas to satisfy their hunger, just a few slices to get some food in their stomach and go on with their day. On the other hand, artificial wealth revolves around objects for which people have endless 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, gruelling 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 account the arguments t hat say that happiness can, in fact, consist of riches by offering examples such as all 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 fourth 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 personality of a principle, whereas happiness has the nature of an ultimate end, emphasizing that power is a bureau to an end. Second, he states that power is both good and evil and happiness is the proper and perfect good of man. Although the hook for a normal song, the quote no one man should have all that power uniquely resonates in Aquinas argument against happiness consisting of power. People may believe that if they have a greater sense of power, and then they feel more important and hap pier. The more powerful someone 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 abandoned so much power on behalf of the communist USSR that he let his sense of power master him. When he had caught word that there was someone planning a revolution in his cabinet, he had both single one of his high commanding officers killed. Very simply, power makes people do very deviant things to remain in their high position. However, Aquinas argues that power cant solve every line in a persons life. To quote Og Mandino, All the gold in the world cannot buy a dying man one more breath so what does that make today cost? 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 seem highly satisfied with the power he possess, it is easily revocable and those with power fear they will lose it.Aquina s presents that questions of whether happiness consists of wealth and power and presents firm arguments against each. Although he may find faults with each supposition, 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 fair 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.