Natural Love: Aquinas, Evolution and Charity

Research output: Contribution to journalArticle (Academic Journal)peer-review

2 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

This paper offers an analysis of work on human development in evolutionary anthropology from a Thomist perspective. I show that both fields view care for others as fundamental to human nature and interpret cooperative breeding as an expression of the virtue of charity. I begin with an analysis of different approaches to the relationship between evolutionary anthropology and moral theory. I argue that ethical naturalism is the approach best suited to interdisciplinary dialogue, since it holds that natural facts are useful for moral theory but do not encompass it. This forms the basis for a Thomist analysis of some key features of human evolution including bipedalism, higher encephalisation and extended childhood. In each case I explain how these parts of our nature contributed to the evolution of modern humans, and how each is reliant upon communal care. Finally, I offer three observations on these facts from a Thomist perspective. Firstly, that a good human life necessarily involves caring for others and being cared for ourselves. Secondly, that this is exemplified in the virtue of charity, which is the ground of all virtue. Finally, that the need for such care shows that human flourishing cannot be attained without divine aid.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)535-545
JournalThe Heythrop Journal
Volume62
Issue number3
Early online date20 Jun 2017
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 May 2021

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2017 Trustees for Roman Catholic Purposes Registered.

Keywords

  • Charity
  • Aquinas
  • Love
  • Virtue
  • Care
  • Ethical Naturalism
  • interdisciplinary

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