Acquinas

It’s interesting, in studying these philosophers, how spot-on close they come to identifying doctrines of the Restoration. Despite Aquinas starting out with flawed theological undertones, he makes some very important observations about the fundamentals of human character. ‘Individuals can,’ explains Aquinas according to Trigg, ‘exist in a disembodied state, engaged in a life of understanding.’ Our Latter-Day Saint doctrine would agree with that. Aquinas even continues on with the importance and inevitability of the resurrection to complete our human-ness, or bringing into semblance what a human being should really be
One part he missed out on, as far as doctrinal truth goes, is the fact about the fall, with respect to human nature. Aquinas talks about the original state of justice as when the will was subject to God; but this would denote a change in the will’s allegiance. Essentially, Aquinas argues, the will is no longer subject to God. But, the will has never been wholly and unavoidably subject to God. If it were, then our current fallen state could only have been brought about by a decision God would have to make to disorient Himself from us. It would not have been of our own choosing. The only other possibility would be that Satan, who Aquinas does not mention, would have had to steal us away from God, then forfeit the control he would have had back to us.
Aquinas also seems to be something of a social psychologist. He observes that attitude follows behavior. Aquinas even explains that our attitude is caused by our behavior. We are a product of our actions. Our actions demonstrate in true form what it is that we desire to become. I believe that this idea is both descriptive and prescriptive. For example, there are some songs that are played over and over on the radio that we don’t feel positive or negative about. But if we keep listening to the song, we will develop a preference or deference about the song. On the prescriptive side of it, we can force ourselves to do things that we don’t want to do, and eventually we will want to do it. Examples include a person who hasn’t gone to church in a long time and feels uncomfortable at first, but then he grows more and more at home when at church; a child whose parent compels him to practice an instrument, but the child grows up to truly delight in playing and performing his respective music; a stubborn student who resists studying, but comes to find it quite enlightening and enjoyable once he starts.