What Does Aquinas Say About Human Decision Making?

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Aquinas compares humans to animals that act on instinct. He says the only thing that distinguishes a human from an animal is that we're a little bit cleverer about how to do these calculations. But for aquinas, or aristotle, or really any of the ancients, thereis a higher human rationality that allows us to step back from our momentary impulses and ask what is good? It's the exercise of rationaly. Let be distinct, individually distinct.

Author, economist, and theologian Mary Hirschfeld of Villanova University talks about her book, Aquinas and the Market, with EconTalk host Russ Roberts. Hirschfeld looks at the nature of our economic activity as buyers and sellers and whether our pursuit of economic growth and material well-being comes at a cost. She encourages a skeptical stance about the ability of more stuff to produce true happiness and/or satisfaction. The conversation includes a critique of economic theory and the aspect of human satisfaction outside the domain of economists.