Thursday, April 01, 2010

1a 2ae q21 a3: Whether a human action is meritorious or demeritorious in so far as it is good or evil? Yes.

Actus bonus vel malus habet rationem laudabilis vel culpabilis (secundum quod est in potestate voluntatis), rationem vero rectitudinis et peccati (secundum ordinem ad finem), rationem vero meriti et demeriti secundum retributionem iustitiae ad alterum, quia hoc ipsum bonum vel malum quod aliquis sibi facit per suum actum, redundat in communitatem.

A good or evil action has the formal aspect of praiseworthy or blameworthy (insofar as it is in the power of the will), the formal aspect of right or sinful (according as it is ordained to the end), and the formal aspect of merit or demerit according to the recompense for justice or injustice towards another, because this very good or evil, which a man does to himself by his action, redounds to the community.

Homo, qui habet dominium sui actus, ipse etiam, inquantum est alterius, scilicet communitatis, cuius est pars, meretur aliquid vel demeretur, inquantum actus suos bene vel male disponit.

Man is master of his actions; and yet, insofar as he belongs to another, i.e., the community, of which he forms part, he merits or demerits, inasmuch as he disposes his actions well or ill.

Meritum et demeritum dicuntur in ordine ad retributionem quae fit secundum iustitiam. Retributio autem secundum iustitiam fit alicui ex eo quod agit in profectum vel nocumentum alterius.

We speak of merit and demerit, in relation to retribution, rendered according to justice. Now, retribution according to justice is rendered to a man, by reason of his having done something to another's advantage or hurt.

Est autem considerandum quod unusquisque in aliqua societate vivens, est aliquo modo pars et membrum totius societatis. Quicumque ergo agit aliquid in bonum vel malum alicuius in societate existentis, hoc redundat in totam societatem sicut qui laedit manum, per consequens laedit hominem.

It must, moreover, be observed that every individual member of a society is, in a fashion, a part and member of the whole society. Wherefore, any good or evil, done to the member of a society, redounds on the whole society: thus, who hurts the hand, hurts the man.

Cum ergo aliquis agit in bonum vel malum alterius singularis personae, cadit ibi dupliciter ratio meriti vel demeriti. Uno modo, secundum quod debetur ei retributio a singulari persona quam iuvat vel offendit. Alio modo, secundum quod debetur ei retributio a toto collegio.

When, therefore, anyone does good or evil to another individual, there is a twofold formal aspect of merit or demerit in his action: first, in respect of the retribution owed to him by the individual to whom he has done good or harm; secondly, in respect of the retribution owed to him by the whole of society.

Quando vero aliquis ordinat actum suum directe in bonum vel malum totius collegii, debetur ei retributio primo quidem et principaliter a toto collegio, secundario vero, ab omnibus collegii partibus. Cum vero aliquis agit quod in bonum proprium vel malum vergit, etiam debetur ei retributio, inquantum etiam hoc vergit in commune secundum quod ipse est pars collegii, licet non debeatur ei retributio inquantum est bonum vel malum singularis personae, quae est eadem agenti, nisi forte a seipso secundum quandam similitudinem, prout est iustitia hominis ad seipsum.

Now when a man ordains his action directly for the good or evil of the whole society, retribution is owed to him, before and above all, by the whole society; secondarily, by all the parts of society. Whereas when a man does that which conduces to his own benefit or disadvantage, then again is retribution owed to him, insofar as this too affects the community, inasmuch as he is a part of society: although retribution is not due to him, insofar as it conduces to the good or harm of an individual, who is identical with the agent: unless, perchance, he owe retribution to himself, by a sort of resemblance, insofar as man is said to be just to himself.

Dicitur Isaiae III, "dicite iusto quoniam bene; quoniam fructum adinventionum suarum comedet. Vae impio in malum; retributio enim manuum eius fiet ei".

It is written (Isaiah 3:10-11): "Say to the just man that it is well; for he shall eat the fruit of his doings. Woe to the wicked unto evil; for the reward of his hands shall be given him."