Hope and a good life. Reflections concerning Plato and Thomas Aquinas

Abstract

Hope is a necessary condition of a good life, and a good life provides a basis for hope. Saint Thomas Aquinas distinguishes between hope as an emotion and hope as a virtue. The emotion of hope is a sensual quest, whose object is defined by four features: (a) it is a good; hope is thus distinct from fear, which refers to an evil; (b) it is a future good; hope is thus distinct from joy, which refers to a present good; (c) it is a good difficult to obtain; hope is thus distinct from desire; (d) despite difficulty, this good is obtainable; hope is thus distinct from despair. The virtue of hope is an attitude of the will, or a spiritual quest. The object of hope is a future good, which is attainable although with difficulty. Something is attainable for ourselves, or through ourselves, or through others. If we have hope that something is attainable for us with divine help, hope rests in God.