Folia Theologica et Canonica 2. 24/16 (2013)

SACRA THEOLOGIA - Sebastian Walsh, O.Praem., “Fidelissimus Discipulus Eius”: Charles De Köninck’s Exposition of Aquinas’ Doctrine on the Common Good

FOLIA THEOLOGICA ET CANONICA (2013) 131-144

Sebastian Walsh, O.Praem.

“FIDELISSIMUS DISCIPULUS EIUS”:

CHARLES DE KONINCK’S EXPOSITION OF AQUINAS’ DOCTRINE ON THE COMMON GOOD*

Introduction; I. Some Difficulties; II. Approaching an Understanding of the Common Good; III. Key Distinctions, Distinction 1: Integral Whole vs. Universal Whole vs. Potential Whole, Distinction 2: The Good as Efficient Cause and the Good as Final Cause', IV. Some Applications to the Science of Theology; Conclusion

Introduction

Charles De Köninck taught at the University of Laval in Quebec and wrote on virtually every subject that occupied the mind of St. Thomas: The Philosophy of Nature and of the Soul, Ethics and Politics, Metaphysics, Theology, even Mathematics. One of his most significant and lasting contributions to the philosophia perennis was his exposition of St. Thomas’ doctrine of the common good. This paper aims to impart a clearer and more profound understanding of St. Thomas’ doctrine of the common good with Charles De Köninck as our guide. To this end, I will first expose some pitfalls that can impede our understanding of St. Thomas’ doctrine; second, I will lay out some important distinctions which Charles De Köninck proposed as keys to understanding Aquinas’ doctrine; and third, I will briefly identify some important ways that this doctrine contributes to Theology.

* This article is adapted from a lecture delivered at Ave Maria University in January, 2011. Its first publication is by the Aquinas Review 19 (2013). The title of this article is borrowed from a chapter of Charles De Köninck’s essay “In Defense of St. Thomas,” and was originally a title given to Peter of Auvergne, a thirteenth century scholar and student of St. Thomas, by Ptolemy de Luca on account of his fidelity to the doctrine of St. Thomas. In our own time, where there is so much disagreement among those who call themselves thomists, it seemed right to me that, in view of his complete fidelity to St. Thomas on the subject of the common good, this title might be said without hyperbole to describe De Köninck aptly in his own age.