Moral Passions: A Thomistic Interpretation of Moral Emotions in Nonhuman and Human Animals
Should the many sensibilities and behaviors exhibited by non-human animals similar to humans qualify as morality? While some see non-human social behaviors as a development of human moral behavior, others point out a conspicuous lack of essential components of human morality are altogether set apart...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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The Journal of Moral Theology, Inc.
2014-06-01
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| Series: | Journal of Moral Theology |
| Online Access: | https://jmt.scholasticahq.com/article/11268-moral-passions-a-thomistic-interpretation-of-moral-emotions-in-nonhuman-and-human-animals |
| Summary: | Should the many sensibilities and behaviors exhibited by non-human animals similar to humans qualify as morality? While some see non-human social behaviors as a development of human moral behavior, others point out a conspicuous lack of essential components of human morality are altogether set apart from non-human acts. A Thomistic analysis that takes into consideration reason, will, and the passions show that emotions – while indeed indispensable and representing the immediate reaction to our social world – are incomplete for an understanding of man, who utilizes his reason and will to order his initial emotions into morally meaningful acts. |
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| ISSN: | 2166-2851 2166-2118 |