Sunday, September 13, 2009

1a 2ae q1 a8: Whether other creatures concur in that last end? No.

In ultimo fine hominis alia conveniunt quia beatitudo nominat adeptionem ultimi finis.

Other things do not concur in man's last end because happiness means the acquisition of the last end.

Si ergo loquamur de ultimo fine hominis quantum ad ipsam rem quae est finis, sic in ultimo fine hominis omnia alia conveniunt, quia Deus est ultimus finis hominis et omnium aliarum rerum.

If, therefore, we speak of man's last end as of the thing which is the end, thus all other things concur in man's last end, since God is the last end of man and of all other things.

Si autem loquamur de ultimo fine hominis quantum ad consecutionem finis, sic in hoc fine hominis non communicant creaturae irrationales. Nam homo et aliae rationales creaturae consequuntur ultimum finem cognoscendo et amando Deum, quod non competit aliis creaturis, quae adipiscuntur ultimum finem inquantum participant aliquam similitudinem Dei, secundum quod sunt, vel vivunt, vel etiam cognoscunt.

If, however, we speak of man's last end, as of the acquisition of the end, then irrational creatures do not concur with man in this end. For man and other rational creatures attain to their last end by knowing and loving God; this is not possible to other creatures, which acquire their last end, in so far as they share in the Divine likeness, inasmuch as they are, or live, or even know.

"Sed non cadit in animalia rationis expertia ut beata sint", sicut Augustinus dicit in libro octoginta trium quaest.

"Happiness is not possible for animals bereft of reason," as Augustine says (QQ. 83, qu. 5).