St. Thomas Aquinas' Concept of Hope: Its Object and Subject
St. Thomas Aquinas' Concept of Hope: Its Object and Subject

Summary/Abstract: The article presents St. Thomas Aquinas' concept of hope. This is done on the basis of three dimensions of human life (sensual, mental, spiritual). In each of them, hope takes the form of comfort, efficiency and theological virtue, respectively. In addition to presenting the essence and role of hope, the author characterizes its object and subject. Thomas distinguishes between the formal and material object of hope. In the case of hope as a theological virtue, the material object is God as the good-end. God as a means of reaching God (the end) is the formal object of the virtue of hope. The subject of hope is man endowed with will, i.e. mental power of desire. The article also shows the relationship between hope, faith and love.

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