Question:
It seems that wisdom is superior to faith and charity in the Thomistic framework. For wisdom is the highest intellectual virtue, perfecting the intellect, which is the noblest faculty of the human soul. Since Thomism emphasizes the intellectual apprehension of divine truths, it appears that wisdom is exalted above the theological virtues of faith and charity.
Objection 1:
It seems that Thomism promotes wisdom above faith and charity. For Thomas Aquinas states in Summa Theologiae (ST I-II, Q. 57, A. 2) that wisdom is "the most perfect of the intellectual virtues," since it judges all things in light of first principles. Since the intellect is superior to the will, wisdom, as an intellectual virtue, must be superior to the theological virtues, including faith and charity.
Objection 2:
Further, Aquinas holds that wisdom is the highest participation in the divine mind (ST I-II, Q. 68, A. 1). Love (charity) and faith are acts of the will and are, therefore, secondary to this participation in divine truth, which is the primary goal of the human person.
Objection 3:
Furthermore, Aquinas places wisdom at the pinnacle of speculative knowledge in ST I, Q. 1, A. 6, arguing that theology, as a form of divine wisdom, is the queen of the sciences. This emphasis on wisdom as ruling over all other disciplines suggests its primacy over faith and charity, which are subjective dispositions rather than universal truths.
On the contrary:
Aquinas writes in Summa Theologiae (ST II-II, Q. 23, A. 6) that "charity is the form of all the virtues," including wisdom. Furthermore, he holds in ST II-II, Q. 45, A. 2 that wisdom itself is ordered by charity, for "charity directs wisdom to its proper end."
I answer that:
While Thomism exalts wisdom as the highest of the intellectual virtues and a participation in divine truth, Aquinas explicitly subordinates wisdom to the theological virtues of faith and charity. For Aquinas, the ultimate end of the human person is the beatific vision, a union with God characterized by love and direct knowledge of the divine essence (ST I-II, Q. 3, A. 8). Wisdom, though crucial, is only an instrument oriented toward this end and finds its fulfillment in faith and charity.
First, wisdom is an intellectual virtue that depends on faith for its foundation. Faith provides the supernatural truths that wisdom contemplates. Without faith, wisdom would lack access to the principles of divine revelation necessary for its operation (ST II-II, Q. 45, A. 2).
Second, charity (love of God and neighbor) is superior because it unites the soul to God in a way that surpasses intellectual apprehension. Aquinas emphasizes in ST I-II, Q. 62, A. 4 that "charity surpasses all other virtues in dignity," as it most directly conforms the human person to God, who is love (1 John 4:8). Wisdom, while noble, lacks this unitive aspect.
Finally, Aquinas teaches that wisdom itself is perfected by charity. In ST II-II, Q. 45, A. 6, he states that wisdom, guided by charity, becomes rightly ordered toward the good. Wisdom devoid of charity could lead to pride, as seen in the "wisdom of the world," which Aquinas critiques in ST II-II, Q. 45, A. 2.
Reply to Objection 1:
Though wisdom is the highest intellectual virtue, Aquinas does not rank virtues by their natural order but by their proximity to the ultimate end. Charity, as the theological virtue that unites the soul with God, is superior to wisdom.
Reply to Objection 2:
Participation in the divine mind through wisdom is secondary to the participation in divine love through charity. Charity transforms wisdom into a means of loving God more perfectly, making charity the final end to which wisdom is ordered.
Reply to Objection 3:
While theology as a form of wisdom is the queen of the sciences, it derives its authority from the truths of faith and is oriented toward the practice of charity. Hence, Thomism does not exalt wisdom in isolation but integrates it within the broader theological framework where love reigns supreme.
Sources
- Aquinas, Thomas. Summa Theologiae.
- ST I-II, Q. 57, A. 2: On wisdom as the highest intellectual virtue.
- ST I-II, Q. 62, A. 4: On charity surpassing all virtues.
- ST II-II, Q. 45: On wisdom perfected by charity.
- ST I-II, Q. 3, A. 8: On the ultimate end as union with God.
- Holy Bible. 1 John 4:8: "God is love."