The Thomistic Institute
Thomas Aquinas on Peace: Part Two | Fr. Cajetan Cuddy, O.P.
Oct 18, 2024
Fr. Cajetan Cuddy, O.P., a Dominican priest and expert on the Thomist Tradition, dives deep into Thomas Aquinas's views on peace and war. He explores the intertwining paths of human desires for goodness and the conflicts that arise from them. Cuddy highlights Aquinas's moral perspective, emphasizing peace as a state achieved when rational beings align with their true good. The discussion also reveals how conflicting desires can disrupt individual and societal harmony, shedding light on the philosophical essence of true peace.
50:46
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Quick takeaways
- Peace is fundamentally associated with the goodness present within reality, emphasizing that conflict arises from its absence rather than mere actions.
- Aquinas's framework of just war highlights that restoring peace is essential, as all beings inherently strive for their own goodness within a divine order.
Deep dives
The Nature of Peace and War
Peace is inherently linked to goodness, according to philosophical principles that define being and its aspirations. War often arises from a privation or lack of peace, not merely as a set of actions but as a deeper conflict born from the absence of that which is fundamentally good. The concept of peace is intricately connected to the ordered nature of reality, which begins with God, extending through all beings, from rational creatures to even subatomic particles. Understanding war requires an appreciation of the intrinsic inclinations of beings to seek the good, highlighting the complex dynamics that underlie conflicts among individuals and nations.
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