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Objection 1: It would seem that anger should not be reckoned among
the capital sins. For anger is born of sorrow which is a capital vice
known by the name of sloth. Therefore anger should not be reckoned a
capital vice.
Objection 2: Further, hatred is a graver sin than anger.
Therefore it should be reckoned a capital vice rather than anger.
Objection 3: Further, a gloss on Prov. 29:22, "An angry
man provoketh quarrels," says: "Anger is the door to all vices: if
it be closed, peace is ensured within to all the virtues; if it be
opened, the soul is armed for every crime." Now no capital vice is
the origin of all sins, but only of certain definite ones. Therefore
anger should not be reckoned among the capital vices.
On the contrary, Gregory (Moral. xxxi, 45) places anger among
the capital vices.
I answer that, As stated above (FS, Question 84, Article
3,4), a capital vice is defined as one from which many vices
arise. Now there are two reasons for which many vices can arise from
anger. The first is on the part of its object which has much of the
aspect of desirability, in so far as revenge is desired under the
aspect of just or honest, which is attractive by its excellence, as
stated above (Article 4). The second is on the part of its
impetuosity, whereby it precipitates the mind into all kinds of
inordinate action. Therefore it is evident that anger is a capital
vice.
Reply to Objection 1: The sorrow whence anger arises is not, for
the most part, the vice of sloth, but the passion of sorrow, which
results from an injury inflicted.
Reply to Objection 2: As stated above (Question 118, Article
7; Question 148, Article 5; Question 153, Article 4;
FS, Question 84, Article 4), it belongs to the notion of a
capital vice to have a most desirable end, so that many sins are
committed through the desire thereof. Now anger, which desires evil
under the aspect of good, has a more desirable end than hatred has,
since the latter desires evil under the aspect of evil: wherefore anger
is more a capital vice than hatred is.
Reply to Objection 3: Anger is stated to be the door to the vices
accidentally, that is by removing obstacles, to wit by hindering the
judgment of reason, whereby man is withdrawn from evil. It is,
however, directly the cause of certain special sins, which are called
its daughters.
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