A Comparative Survey on the Theoretical and Practical Aspects of Vice and its Relationship with Sins from the Viewpoint of Thomas Aquinas and Mullah Mehdi Naraghi

The Present Research is dealing with a Comparative Survey on the Theoretical and Practical Aspects of Vice and its Relationship with Sins from the Viewpoint of Thomas Aquinas (a Christian Philosopher and Theologian in 13th Century AD) and Mullah Mehdi Naraghi (Shiite Philosopher and Theologian in19th Century AD), so that they can contribute to increase the fundamental knowledge in this knowledge area.

Thomas Aquinas and Moula Mahdi Naraghi are among the most salient intelligentsia who had noticeable contributions in the reinforcement of Shiite moral system and Catholic sect. These two personalities have had a special study and attention to Virtue and Vice as two fundamental concepts in the moral system. On this basis, this thesis, with an descriptive analytical is going to explain the concept of virtue and vice in the Shiite and Catholic moral system and in this way this thesis meanwhile surveying the theoretical and practical aspects of vice and its relationship with sin, surveys the distinctive similarities and differences between Thomas Aquinas and Mullah Mehdi Naraghi. The first similarity is that the two philosophers know the end of virtue and vice disobedience from the Divine Decree. We can observe the second common trait in the moral thought of Thomas and Naraghi in the criterion of vices which is extravagance and negligence in action.

Finally, in comparing the ideas of these two thinkers there are also discrepancies. The main difference between the Islamic and Christian viewpoints is the human role and will in the moral life. In the Islamic viewpoint the human will and volition in achieving the moral virtues is considered a fundamental element. In contrast, in the Christian viewpoint the human sinful nature is an essential obstacle on the way of human prosperity and realizing his volition in attaining the virtues.