The Thomistic Institute Are the Virtues Natural? – Fr. John Sica, O.P.
Oct 6, 2025
Fr. John Sica, O.P. is an Assistant Professor of Philosophy at Providence College and a Dominican priest. He delves into whether virtues are natural or learned, drawing on Aristotle and Aquinas. Sica argues that virtues aren't innate but can be cultivated through habituation and moral training. He likens learning virtues to mastering penmanship, emphasizing that these character qualities become a 'second nature.' The discussion illuminates how habits can perfect our inherent powers, guiding us toward our true potential.
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Virtues Are Trained, Not Innate
- Virtues are not inborn like sight or touch; they require training and repetition to form.
- But once habituated, virtues reliably order actions toward our nature's goal.
Pete The Rock Demonstrates Natural Limits
- Fr. John Sica uses a boy and his pet rock Pete to show you cannot habituate a rock to do the opposite of its nature.
- The rock always falls when dropped no matter how many times you throw it upward.
Virtue Completes Function And Activity
- A virtue completes a thing by making both the agent and its activity excellent relative to its function.
- Like sharpness for a knife, virtues perfect humans for their proper end.
