Is Anger Good Or Evil?

Is Anger Good or Evil? A Tract Book Essay By Anthony J. Fejfar, J.D., Esq., Coif © Copyright 2007 by Anthony J. Fejfar

In the Summa Theologica, Part II-II, Question 158, Thomas Aquinas considers whether anger is good or evil. In Question 158, Article I, Aquinas defines anger as the desire for revenge. He then continues on to take the position that anger in accordance with right reason is good, while anger not in accord with right reason is evil. Similarly, in Question 158, Article II, Aquinas asserts that anger whose end is Justice, is good while anger which promotes injustice is evil. Finally, Aquinas argues that only moderate anger is good and that immoderate anger is evil. Id. I argue that for anger to be good, it must be ethical anger directed toward the Good as an end. I also argue that the purpose of anger should be a proportional response to an injustice, not revenge. Anger which abhors that which is unethical is good. That which is unethical is that which is not in accordance with the natural law principles of reciprocity, utility, proportionality, and equity.

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Ethical anger is just anger. Ethical anger

which is directed toward social injustice is also good. Finally, however, as Aquinas notes, one should never allow one’s anger to become so strong that one loses one’s ability to reason. Anger which clouds good judgment and reason is not good, but evil.

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