A Philosophical Happy Hour on establishing and maintaining the virtue of perseverance and carrying through our resolutions.
We often begin our new years, whether explicitly or not, with an intention to better ourselves. The old year almost invariably, upon reflection, provides us evident opportunities for self-improvement. Sometimes, this intentions are not only explicit, but grand: we will write that novel, finish the degree, finally work up the courage to quit our hated jobs or pursue our true beloveds, etc.
But other times, and often within these grand aspirations, it is the little improvements—the step-by-step progressions towards our greater goals—at which we fail. We aim to lose the weight, but fail to keep from eating that extra sweet here and there. The book is never written because we cannot move ourselves to compose sentences. We fantasize about quitting, but take no practical steps to ensure a possible transition to other employment, and so on.
Perseverance: A Part of Fortitude
In the largest part of his Summa Theologiae, the Secunda Secundae, Thomas Aquinas devotes thirteen questions (128-140) to fortitude. While we normally think of fortitude (or courage) as concerned with life-or-death, dangerous situations, as those by which it is exemplified, there are other parts integral to a truly courageously-lived life. Among these, he includes the virtue of perseverance. As he writes:
It is more difficult to persist in great deeds: yet in little or ordinary deeds, it is difficult to persist for any length of time, if not on account of the greatness of the deed which magnificence considers, yet from its very continuance which perseverance regards.
Long endurance, indeed, seems a habit few today possess, given the ever-present opportunity for objects new and more exciting. Join us this first Philosophical Happy Hour of 2025 as we read question 137 from Aquinas’ Summa Theologiae IIa-IIae and take up an inquiry into the difficult virtue of perseverance!
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Come join us for drinks (adult or otherwise) and a meaningful conversation. Open to the public! Held every Wednesday from 5:45–7:15pm ET.
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