Not Only Coping: Resilience and Its Sources from a Thomistic Perspective

Area of Science:

• Moral Philosophy
• Theology
• Psychology

Background:

• Thomas Aquinas's Christian moral ethos.
• The overcoming of adversities, trials, and afflictions.
• The concept of resilience in philosophical and theological thought.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze two types of resilience in Aquinas's thought.
• To examine the sources and manifestations of these resilience types.
• To suggest developments for resilience education.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of Thomas Aquinas's philosophical and theological writings.
• Identification and categorization of resilience concepts.
• Exploration of the relationship between virtue, grace, and resilience.

Main Results:

• Distinction between moral resilience (fortitude) and resilience through grace.
• Moral resilience is governed by the virtue of fortitude in facing fear.
• Grace enhances power through perceived weakness.

Conclusions:

• Aquinas's framework offers a dual model of resilience.
• Fortitude and grace are key components in overcoming adversity.
• Potential for developing educational strategies based on these insights.