Deliberation

Abstract Deliberation is perhaps the easiest of the different stages of action to grasp, as to its function; yet: its relationship to the rest of the process of action has not been well understood. This is partly due to a misunderstanding of the Ethica Nicomachea itself, because Aristotle takes pains to indicate the close link between deliberation and the rational nature of human action; and this is misleading if one goes on to deduce that deliberation is necessary for rational action. Further, if deliberation is rest1icted to a consideration only of means and not of ends, and prudence to excellence in deliberation, as is often done, then both Aristotle and Aquinas will be misunderstood on the scope of practical reason. For Aquinas, prudence is more a matter of wise judgement, and even more of right execution, than of good deliberation.