History as Magistra Vitae in the Light of St. Thomas Aquainas’s Aretology

Abstract

St. Thomas Aquainas’s aretology is a unique synthesis of the achievements of the most outstanding representatives of pagan antiquity, Plato and Aristotle, enriched by the Light of supernatural Revelation. A special place in Thomas’s lecture on virtues is occupied by the virtue of prudence, which enables man to choose the right means to achieve good. An important component of this virtue – as Aquinas points out – is memory, which is a kind of treasure trove of experiences accumulated throughout human life. Thomas also points to the fact that this virtue applies not only to the conduct of the individual, but also to the realization of the common good of human communities. In the context of these statements, it seems reasonable to apply his reflections on memory to the broader historical memory of nations, which – according to Cicero’s metaphor personifying memory – remains the „teacher of life”.