ABSTRACT
Chapter 3 (‘Thomism and Moral Character’) offers a fuller account of the work of Thomas and his theological and philosophical commitments, especially his radical transformation of Aristotle in the service of biblical faith and Christian teaching. It covers Thomas’s teaching on beatitude, which is imperfect in this life but perfect in the next, and highlights the role of the theological and cardinal virtues, together with the gifts of the Holy Spirit. While each virtue and gift encompasses a particular role in the formation of character, they work together in a related way to bring human beings to their beatitude. There follows an account of how Thomas identifies problems in moral formation related to the intellect and the will, and of the roles he assigns to conscience and freedom in this process. This analysis draws in particular on Servais Pinckaers, an important modern interpreter of Thomas’s moral theology who was concerned in a special way for its educational implications. Having outlined Thomas’s contribution to a theory of Christian character education, the chapter turns to a historical survey of how Thomism, the school of thought deriving from Aquinas and which held a privileged position in the Catholic Church from the late nineteenth century until the Second Vatican Council, contributed to the Christian philosophy of education, especially in the United States and the UK during the twentieth century. Thomists held positions as professors of education, and Thomist principles offered a sense of unity and integration for the curriculum in Catholic schools. It is noted that Thomist publications on education included presentations on virtue.
