The Motion of the Soul: Thomas Aquinas and Albert the Great on the Passions

Abstract This paper examines Aquinas’ and Albert’s respective interpretations of the term “motion” in Damasecene’s definitions of the passion. Although they have a common understanding of the term within an Aristotelian context, they hold differing attitudes toward it: Albert denies that passion is motion, saying that it is quality left from motion, whereas Aquinas affirms the notion of passion as motion. In this paper I expound on the difficulties Albert has with the term and how Aquinas resolves them. I argue that Aquinas successfully addresses the Albert’s difficulties, thus establishing a foundation for a more refined understanding of human psychology in relation to ethical behaviour.