What is Truth? Aristotle and Prudence

For Aristotle, the defining characteristic of the human being is the rational mind. The same is True for Catholic theology. Most of my students have figured out by now that I am not the kind of theology teacher who is concerned with how God makes them “feel”. I am not really into a pathos kind of rhetoric in my classroom regarding Faith. This surprises a lot of my students. They are used to other teachers who have simply wanted them to Love Jesus the way they Love Jesus! Some previous teachers want their students to experience Jesus the same way they experience Jesus! I have a bit more of a logos driven rhetoric in my class. That is, we are defined by the ability to rationally and logically decide to act in accordance with a purpose. The ultimate purpose of life for Aristotle is eudaimonia. Rationality is the first step in the process of achieving this enduring happiness. This human flourishing. The same will be True for Beatific Vision. Aristotle claims that the rational mind possesses the ability to use prudence as a guide for all actions. Prudence refers to the virtue that allows us to consider the repercussions or effects of current actions on future states. The rational mind using prudence, therefore, allows humans to see in multiple dimensions, the present and the future, using given data. Prudence, then, can be thought of as some sort of connection with eternal Truth of the Authentic Self. The combination of the rational mind and prudence is essential as a fundamental element of the pursuit of eudaimonia and Beatific Vision. Already, at this point of this discussion of Aristotle, students are more engaged and more welcoming to new ideas. Most have never approached theology from a rational perspective.

The Dublin Martyrs statue outside the St. Mary's Pro Cathedral in Dublin, Ireland. It seems irrational to suffer life imprisonment or death for one's beliefs, the punishments Mary Ball (left) and Francis Taylor (right) were given for their faithfulness to the Catholic Faith. Of course, if eternity is greater than time, then their reason was sound.