Moral Theology Quiz 1

What does Aquinas mean by the word image (here you should mention two things)?

By the word image, Aquinas means a something produced as an imitation of something

What does Aquinas mean by God?

By God Aquinas means that He is One Nature in three Persons

Why is the image of God in humans only an imperfect likeness?

Because we do not have an identical nature and because God infinitely exceeds the image/copy

Name the three ways according to which creatures share in a likeness to God.

Because they exist, because the live, and because the understand

According to Aquinas, where does the image of God principally exists in humans?

According to Aquinas, the image of God principally exists in humans intellectual soul

Why is the image of God greater in angels than in humans?

The image of God is greater in angels than in humans because angels have a more perfect intellectual nature. Their knowledge is more perfect than us because they’re immaterial

The image of God, according to Aquinas, can be viewed in humans in three ways. Name them

• Image of Creation/Nature

• Image of Recreation/Grace: elevation

• Image of Likeness/Glory: happens in Heaven

What is Aquinas’ main point in talking about the three ways through which the image of God can be viewed in human beings?

Aquinas’s main point in talking about the three ways through which the image of God can be viewed in human beings is that your image can be perfected by acting according to your nature by knowing and loving God in glory

What is agent cause?

Agent cause is that which brings something into being or changes it in some way

What is final cause?

Final cause is that for the sake of which something exists or is done

Who or what can truly recognize the character of an “end”?

Only reason can truly recognize the character of an “end”

What is the principle and term (recall the meaning of the word “term”) of human acts.

Please provide an example for your answer?

• The principle (beginning) and term (attainment) of human acts is end.

• An example is that your hunger is what causes you to find food and eat, and the fulfillment of that hunger exists in the attainment of the end that prompted the action in the first place

What is the cause of causes in human acts.

The end

What would happen if humans did not act for an end?

If humans did not act for an end than we would be like created beings such as animals and inanimate objects that are moved towards their end by God?

In class we briefly discussed the distinction between nature and grace. Is it possible for man to know that God exists with the aid of supernatural grace?

Is it possible for humans to do or perform good acts with the aid of supernatural grace?

Is it possible for man to love God above all things without the aid of grace (I mentioned this at the end of class)?

There is no wrong answer to this question. Is there an objection or disagreement you may have about Aquinas’ doctrine of image of God, his notion of end, and our brief discussion on what nature is capable of doing with and without grace?