Michael Brooks
Studiousness, or studiositas, is considered a virtue in Catholicism. According to Aquinas, the virtue of studiousness is about moderating one's natural desire for knowledge and directing the mind to think about the right things in the right way. It is about attaining substantive truth and knowledge that comes from God. Studiousness is not about getting the body to try harder, but rather, it is about getting the will to desire correctly. It is a habit that directs one towards a moral goal, often referred to as the Good.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Studiousness is a virtue | Studiousness is a moral virtue that directs us toward a moral goal |
| Studiousness is about knowledge | Studiousness is about the keen application of the mind to knowledge |
| Studiousness is not about getting the body to try harder | Studiousness is about getting the will to desire correctly |
| Studiousness is a habit | Studiousness is a habit of moderating our natural desire for knowledge |
| Studiousness is about temperance | Studiousness is about moderating curiosity and the desire for knowledge |
| Studiousness is not curiosity | Studiousness does not seek to dominate what is hoped to be known |
| Studiousness is diligence | Studiousness is about hard work and concentration |
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What You'll Learn
Studiousness is a virtue derived from 'study'
Studiousness, derived from the word "study", is a virtue that involves the keen application of the mind to a particular subject. It is not just about knowledge, but also about the pursuit of wisdom and the ability to answer those who may reproach us. Studiousness is a moral virtue that directs us towards moral goals, such as "the Good".
In the Christian context, studiousness is not a personal lifestyle choice or a habit of self-care, but rather a moral virtue that is essential to the religion of the Word made flesh. It is about getting the will to desire correctly and attracting us to what is worth knowing (the true and good) while repelling us from what is not (the false and perverted). This makes studiousness a kind of temperance for the mind, where the natural desire for knowledge is moderated, just as temperance moderates the appetite for bodily pleasure.
According to Aquinas, the virtue of studiousness is a spur to the body, preventing the mind from being led astray by its natural weakness and desire for comfort. It is about directing the mind to think about the right things in the right way, as opposed to curiosity, which is about seeking dominance over knowledge and the pleasures that arise from the knowledge of the senses.
By embracing studiousness, we can avoid the vices of curiosity, where one seeks information, images, or sounds from corrupt sources that oppose God and promote immoral or demonic material. Instead, studiousness leads us towards the attainment of substantive truth and a deeper understanding of God and His gifts.
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Studiousness is about attaining knowledge
Studiousness is a virtue that is deeply rooted in the Catholic faith. It is derived from the word "study", and while it may evoke images of diligent scholars poring over books, its essence goes beyond mere hard work and concentration. Studiousness, as a moral virtue, is about attaining knowledge in a way that aligns with one's cultural goals and moral values.
According to Catholic teachings, all people have a natural desire for knowledge. This innate curiosity is a gift from God, and it is what drives us to seek understanding and wisdom. However, it is important to distinguish between studiousness and curiosity. Curiosity can lead one to seek knowledge for the wrong reasons, such as a desire for dominance or stimulation from immoral sources. On the other hand, studiousness is about moderating this desire for knowledge and directing it towards the true and good. It is a habit that helps us achieve our cultural goals and draws us closer to God.
Sr. Dominic Mary Heath, in her work "Giving God Our Attention", emphasizes that Christianity consecrates the human intellectual life in a unique way. Studiousness, therefore, should not be seen as a strange or intimidating concept. It is a natural part of our creatureliness and helps us fulfill our deepest desires that flow from our rational souls. By practicing studiousness, we can attain knowledge that brings us closer to union with God and His gifts.
To attain the virtue of studiousness, one must recognize that it is not just about intellectual pursuit but also about moral direction. It is about disciplining our natural curiosity and directing our minds to think about the right things in the right way. This moderation of our desires is a form of temperance, a virtue that helps us resist the vices of excess and neglect. By embracing studiousness, we can avoid the snares of having too much leisure time and falling into the trap of sinful curiosity.
In conclusion, studiousness is indeed about attaining knowledge, but it is a particular kind of knowledge that aligns with our moral and cultural goals. It is a virtue that guides us towards truth, goodness, and ultimately, a deeper connection with God. By embracing studiousness, Catholics can strive for a form of knowledge that brings not only intellectual understanding but also spiritual fulfillment and human flourishing.
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Temperance and the rejection of curiosity
Temperance is a virtue that moderates the attraction of pleasures and provides balance in the use of created goods. It ensures the will's mastery over instincts and keeps desires within the limits of what is honourable. Temperance is a moral virtue that attracts us to what is worth knowing and, conversely, repels us from what is not.
In Catholic teaching, curiosity is considered a vice. This is not because of the definition of curiosity as a strong desire to know or learn something, but because of the way in which knowledge is pursued. Curiosity becomes a problem when we pursue something that we should not or need not know. Aquinas taught that monks who neglected their vocation by immersing themselves in the latest ballad or novel were succumbing to the vice of curiosity.
In the modern world, we are constantly bombarded with distractions that feed our curiosity, such as television, phones, and the internet. It is easy to fall into the trap of spending hours mindlessly scrolling through social media or Netflix, which can distract us from our legitimate search for truth, as well as from generosity to others and appropriate productivity.
To attain the virtue of studiousness, Catholics must therefore reject the vice of curiosity. Studiousness is a moral virtue that directs us towards what is worth knowing and away from what is not. It is not about getting the body to try harder, but about getting the will to desire correctly. Studiousness is a form of temperance for the mind, moderating our natural desire for knowledge.
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Studiousness is a moral virtue
As humans, we have a natural desire for knowledge. Studiousness, as a virtue, directs this desire towards what is worth knowing (the true and good) and away from what is not (the false and perverted). It is a habit of moderating our natural appetite for knowledge, similar to how temperance moderates our natural appetite for bodily pleasures. By practicing studiousness, we incline ourselves to what is reasonable, and reason directs us to what is good, ultimately leading to happiness and goodness.
In the Christian context, study and knowledge are consecrated uniquely. Christianity is the religion of the Word made flesh, and thus it elevates the human intellectual life. Christians are created by God "to know Him, to love Him, to serve Him..." and one of the Gifts of the Holy Spirit is Knowledge.
However, it is important to distinguish between studiousness and curiosity. Curiosity seeks to dominate knowledge, leading to boredom, while studiousness responds lovingly to knowledge as a gift from God. Curiosity arises from the pleasures of the senses and can lead to the pursuit of immoral or demonic material. In contrast, the studious person desires knowledge to intimately share in God and His gifts.
Therefore, by cultivating the virtue of studiousness, Christians can direct their natural desire for knowledge towards moral and intellectual goals, avoiding the pitfalls of curiosity and attaining a deeper understanding of God and His creation.
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Studiousness is a habit that directs us toward a moral goal
Studiousness, derived from "study", is a virtue that involves the keen application of the mind to a particular subject. It is a habit that moderates our natural desire for knowledge, directing us towards moral goals. As such, it is a virtue that is particularly important for Christians, as it consecrates the human intellectual life.
According to Aquinas, the virtue of studiousness is a spur to the body, preventing the mind from being led astray by its natural weakness and desire for comfort. It is not about getting the body to try harder, but rather, it is about getting the will to desire correctly. Aquinas further states that studiousness is a kind of temperance for the mind, as it moderates our natural appetite for knowledge, just as temperance moderates our appetite for bodily pleasure.
The virtue of studiousness is often contrasted with the vice of curiosity. Curiosity involves a desire for dominance over knowledge, which can lead to boredom. On the other hand, studiousness attracts us to what is worth knowing (the true and good) and repels us from what is not (the false and perverted). It is a habit that directs us towards reasonable goals, while reason itself directs us towards good goals.
In conclusion, studiousness is a habit that involves the diligent, concentrated, and hard-working application of the mind to a particular subject. It is a virtue that is important for Christians as it consecrates the human intellectual life, directing us towards moral goals and helping us to attain knowledge that brings us closer to God.
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Frequently asked questions
Studiousness is a virtue that involves a keen application of the mind to knowledge and is derived from "study". It is a moral virtue that attracts us to what is worth knowing and true and repels us from what is false and perverted.
According to Aquinas, the virtue of studiousness moderates man’s natural desire to know, directing the mind to think about the right things in the right way. It is about getting the will to desire correctly and responding lovingly to knowledge as a gift.
The vice that opposes studiousness is curiosity, which involves seeking information from corrupt sources that oppose God and promote immoral or demonic material. Curiosity seeks to dominate what it hopes to know, whereas studiousness does not.
