Introduction to Ultimate End paper.

The new natural lawyer and moral theologian Germain Grisez has recently argued against Aquinas’s thesis that God is man’s ultimate end. Grisez takes Thomas’ defense of this thesis in Summa Theologica I-II Q. 1-5 as a foil for the classical theistic tradition. This thesis, “because God constituted us so that we naturally tend toward as close of a union with Him as possible our heart cannot rest unless we are united to God by the beatific vision,” which Grisez names the classical restless heart thesis is found clearly in Augustine and is admittedly derived from Scripture.ⁱ For Thomas, this uniting is man’s ultimate end (Q.3A.8 ) that leaves nothing to be desired (Q. 1.A.3 ).

In his recent article “The True Ultimate End of Human Beings: The Kingdom, Not God Alone” Grisez offers five arguments against Aquinas’ view of God as the ultimate end.ⁱⁱ The fifth argument finds an inconsistency in Aquinas’ understanding of the beatific vision. Thomas thinks that a thing can be perfected in two ways: 1) according to its essence or 2) according to its well-being (Q.4 A.5 ). A disembodied soul receiving the beatific vision (its ultimate end) is perfected according to its essence. This soul is further perfected after the resurrection of the dead by being embodied and being in community. These two perfections are according to the man’s well-being. Grisez argues that since the person will receive further perfections, something is left to be desired. But the person is receiving the beatific, which, according to the classical restless heart thesis, can leave nothing to be desired. Therefore, God is not man’s ultimate end (although God may be one element of man’s end).

I am going to respond to Grisez’s argument in a paper I am working on. It is in the research stage now, but I will post sections as I get them written. I am currently trying to understand Thomas’ view of desire or appetite.

_______________________

i Lecture by Grisez at University of St. Thomas, “The Restless Heart Blunder”. The lecture can be found here, this thesis is given at approximately 9:00. Grisez spends a couple of minutes tracing this principle back to Augustine and Scripture just before this.

ii Germain Grisez, “The True Ultimate End of Human Beings: The Kingdom, Not God Alone.” Theological Studies, 69 (2008), 38-61. The five arguments are given on pages 44-53 with the fifth argument beginning on 49.