Aquinas on the Role of Emotion in Moral Judgment and Activity

Abstract

Philosophers are divided on the issue of how our emotions contribute to forming moral judgments. Some hold that emotions are the foundation of moral philosophy while others insist that they should never be permitted to intrude into our moral judgments. Aquinas occupies an intermediate position on the issue. This work will primarily focus on Aquinas' account of the way our emotions support as well as impair our moral judgments. His teaching can help us to properly understanding the unique role played by each of our human faculties in moral judgment and activity, the agent may be aided in his quest to approximate the ideal moral life.