Discernment: An Ignatian complement to Aristotle's Virtuous Action

Despite our considerable cultural, scientific, technological and historical distance from Aristotle, his thoughts remain a fertile source of philosophical and even religious insights. The necessity for virtuousness in all aspects of human life furnishes a paradigmatic example of how Aristotle can still be brought into productive conversation with contemporary philosophical and religious debates. One such example is an appropriation of Aristotle’s deliberation of virtuous action in relation with Ignatius’ discernment of God’s will. Aristotle emphasises the application of all human virtues – both moral and intellectual - in choosing, judging and acting while Ignatius maintains that in addition to moral and intellectual virtues the graced affective intelligence resulting from acquisition and exercise of supernatural virtues is equally essential. While Aristotle maintains that such choice of action is purely a human effort on the part of the virtuous person Ignatius supplements Aristotle’s analysis by maintaining that God collaborates with a supernaturally virtuous person so that the person’s choice to do God’s will is not only aided by but also confirmed by God.