Reference no: EM133570239

Question

Both Aristotle and Aquinas held that the ultimate good for a human being must be something that is self-sufficient. It must be something that does not rely on the pursuit of some further good. In Book X Chapter 7 of the Nicomachean Ethics Aristotle tells us that the highest form of human life is comprised of the "activity of contemplation" (1177a-b). In Questions 1-3 of Part 1-2 of the Summa Theologica (Question 2, Article 8 and Question 3 Article 2 in particular) Aquinas argues that a completely self-sufficient good can only be found through union with God. In your explanation section provide an account of the reasons each philosopher gives for his respective view. Then, in your analysis section, provide an argument for which philosopher gives the superior account. Some questions to consider: why does Aristotle identify a life of contemplation as the highest form of human life? What makes contemplation self-sufficient? Why does Aquinas believe that contemplation isn't completely self-sufficient? Aquinas tells us that "beatitude is a perfect good that puts the appetite totally to rest" (ST 1-2, q.2, a.8). Why should we want our appetite to be "totally at rest"? Does a life in which our "appetite is.