In this highly informative talk Andrew Wood takes you through some of the key philosophical concepts concerning morality and the human person. In an easy to understand way, Andrew begins by looking at what Aristotle and St Thomas Aquinas say concerning the very nature of the human person. Within this discussion Andrew looks at what a human soul is and shows you the distinction between the three different kinds of soul that we necessarily find among all living material beings: the vegetative soul that enlivens a plant, the sensitive soul which enlivens an animal, and the human soul which vivifies the human person’s body.

After looking at the nature of the human soul Andrew then turns his attention to the spirit world. Here Andrew makes the distinction between the three different kinds of spirits: God (the uncreated pure spirit), the angels (created pure spirits) and the human soul. While discussing the nature of what an angel is Andrew raises the question of the distinction between a good and bad angels, which inevitably leads him into looking at the nature of human morality.

In speaking of human morality Andrew gives a concise exposé of the Ten Commandments, and shows how they are hierarchically ordered, according to their natural order of importance. Andrew also demonstrates how the Ten Commandments are natural for the human person and for human society to follow. In conclusion Andrew explains the famous Principle of the Double Effect: a moral principle everyone should explicitly know.

This is a most interesting and informative talk on certain key philosophical concepts concerning morality and the human person.

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