Final answer:
According to Thomas Aquinas, human nature aims at the ultimate good by reflecting the image of God, akin to Aristotle's concept of flourishing or 'eudaimonia.' Aquinas believed in cultivating virtues to achieve well-being, integrating Aristotelian ethics with a Christian worldview.
Step-by-step explanation:
Understanding Human Nature According to Aquinas
For Thomas Aquinas, understanding human nature and its aim toward the good involves recognizing a perfectionist ethical framework. Aquinas believed that our purpose in life is to reflect the perfect image of God, aligning our lives with divine will, culminating in the ultimate good. This thinking is grounded in the classical tradition of virtue ethics, especially as articulated by Aristotle, from whom Aquinas drew much inspiration. Aristotle argued that eudaimonia (flourishing) was the end goal of human action, and we achieve this by cultivating virtues, which are habits that help us act appropriately in various circumstances.
Furthermore, Aquinas held that human nature aims at multiple good things and that by observing human nature, much like we observe animals, we can discern what is good for humans. The human flourishing that both Aristotle and Aquinas describe is not a momentary pleasure, but a state achieved through the practice of virtue, guided by reason, ultimately leading to well-being. Aquinas integrated this Aristotelian ethics with his Christian worldview, asserting that ethical living under natural law is part of the divine plan.