The Root of Friendship: Self-Love and Self-Governance in Aquinas

Synopsis

The Root Of Friendship Addresses The Connections Between Self-love And Self-governance In The Thought Of St. Thomas Aquinas And Defends Three Related Theses. First, Aquinas's Account Of Proper Self-love Is A Description Of The Nature And Importance Of A Person's Subjective Self- Experience. Second, His Notion Of Self-governance Cannot Be Understood Fully Unless We Grasp Its Basis In Self-love. Finally, His Account Both Satisfies Contemporary Conditions Of Relevance For Self-governance And Offers Attractive Solutions To Issues Raised In Analytic Discussions On Such Matters.