Habits and Holiness: Ethics, Theology, and Biopsychology (Thomistic Ressourcement Series)

The topic of habitus is one of Thomas Aquinas's greatest contributions to moral theology, but it has been generally neglected in theological scholarship until now. Habits and Holiness is the first work in English to explore Aquinas's rich theology of habit in all of its grandeur and depth. Habits and Holiness shows that most facets of human life and behavior are greatly influenced by habits, which Thomas appraises as an analogous concept that is much broader than previous scholarship has recognized. Habits and Holiness accomplishes three tasks. First, it gives a complete and coherent account of Aquinas's account of habitus. Most accounts of Aquinas's view of habitus focus almost exclusively on "Treatise on Habits" in the Summa Theologiae I-II, qq. 49-54, and speak of habitus in reference to the virtues. However, Aquinas speaks of habitus in many other places, especially his commentaries on Aristotle's works and his commentaries on Sacred Scripture. Aquinas employs the concept of habitus to explain a wide variety of human inclinations, such as instincts, personal and societal custom, acquired skills and virtues, original sin, grace, infused virtues, and Gifts of the Holy Spirit. Second, this book indicates how biological psychology illuminates and enriches Aquinas's account of habit, and vice versa. Finally, Habits and Holiness provides readers with a framework for interpreting and utilizing the vast amount of practical habit literature that exists: it offers a practical analysis of habit development found in Aquinas's works and those of empirical studies. The topic of habits is a golden thread that helps readers find their way through Aquinas's extensive writings on morals. By describing the many kinds of habits we possess, and their widespread but often hidden effects in our lives, this book offers a new and unique reevaluation of many issues central to the moral life. It addresses childhood development, pagan virtue, akrasia , circumstances that limit free choice, how heroic virtue operates, and more. By seeing habits in general as a prism for understanding human action and its influences, Habits and Holiness provides a unique and appealing synthesis of Thomistic virtue theory, the contemporary science of habits, and best practices for eliminating bad habits and living good habits. The topic of is one of Thomas Aquinas's greatest contributions to moral theology, but it has been generally neglected in theological scholarship until now. is the first work in English to explore Aquinas's rich theology of habit in all of its grandeur and depth. __Habits and Holiness__ shows that most facets of human life and behavior are greatly influenced by habits, which Thomas appraises as an analogous concept that is much broader than previous scholarship has recognized. __Habits and Holiness__ accomplishes three tasks. First, it gives a complete and coherent account of Aquinas's account of __habitus.__ Most accounts of Aquinas's view of habitus focus almost exclusively on "Treatise on Habits" in the __Summa Theologiae__ I-II, qq. 49-54, and speak of habitus in reference to the virtues. However, Aquinas speaks of __habitus__ in many other places, especially his commentaries on Aristotle's works and his commentaries on Sacred Scripture. Aquinas employs the concept of habitus to explain a wide variety of human inclinations, such as instincts, personal and societal custom, acquired skills and virtues, original sin, grace, infused virtues, and Gifts of the Holy Spirit. Second, this book indicates how biological psychology illuminates and enriches Aquinas's account of habit, and vice versa. Finally, __Habits and Holiness__ provides readers with a framework for interpreting and utilizing the vast amount of practical habit literature that exists: it offers a practical analysis of habit development found in Aquinas's works and those of empirical studies. The topic of habits is a golden thread that helps readers find their way through Aquinas's extensive writings on morals. By describing the many kinds of habits we possess, and their widespread but often hidden effects in our lives, this book offers a new and unique reevaluation of many issues central to the moral life. It addresses childhood development, pagan virtue, __akrasia__, circumstances that limit free choice, how heroic virtue operates, and more. By seeing habits in general as a prism for understanding human action and its influences, __Habits and Holiness__ provides a unique and appealing synthesis of Thomistic virtue theory, the contemporary science of habits, and best practices for eliminating bad habits and living good habits. Dedication 6 Contents 8 List of Figures and Tables 12 Foreword • Wojciech Giertych 14 Preface 20 Acknowledgments 30 Abbreviations 32 Introduction: Are Habits Necessary? 36 Part 1. Subterranean Habits 70 1. Dispositions Derived from Human Nature 72 2. Dispositions Derived from Individual Nature 118 3. Experience and Habituation 149 Part 2. Human, Inhuman, and Divine Habits 190 4. Freedom and Habituation 192 5. Positive Habits and Virtues 247 6. Negative Habits and Vices 300 7. Grace, Flourishing, and the Grades of Virtue 359 8. Theological Virtues and the Gifts of the Holy Spirit 402 Part 3. Hacking Your Habits 452 9. Elements of Habit Change 454 10. Forming Habits for Life 507 Conclusion: The Habitual Readiness to Flourish 556 Appendix 1: Habits Summary 566 Appendix 2: Thomistic Habit Loop 568 Selected Bibliography 570 Index of Names 588 Subject Index 598 "This comprehensive exploration of Thomas Aquinas's theology of habit takes habits in general as a prism for understanding human action and its influences and provides a unique synthesis of Thomistic virtue theory, modern science of habits, and best practices for eliminating bad habits and living good habits"-- Provided by publisher