Chapter 111 — That rational creatures are subject to divine providence in a special manner

From what has been proved up to now, (Ch. 64. seqq.) it is evident that divine providence extends to all things. And yet there must be some special kind of providence bestowed on intellectual and rational creatures in preference to others.

For they surpass other creatures both in the perfections of their nature and in the excellence of their end. In the perfection of their nature, because the rational creature alone has dominion over its action, since it moves itself freely to act, while other creatures are moved to their proper actions rather than act themselves, as was proved above. (Ch. 47.) In the excellence of their end, because the intellectual creature alone attains to the last end of the universe by its operation, that is, by knowing and loving God: but other creatures cannot attain to the last end except by a certain participation of his likeness. Now, actions vary in kind according to the diversity of end and of their subject matter. Thus in art the operations vary according to the difference of end and matter. For a physician acts differently to expel sickness, and to confirm health; he acts yet differently in bodies of different temperament. In like manner, a different kind of order must be observed in the government of a state according to the different status of the subjects, and according to the different ends to which they are directed, for there must be a different rule for soldiers to make them ready to fight, and for craftsmen to make them able to work. Accordingly, there is one kind of order whereby rational creatures are subject to divine providence, and another whereby other creatures are subject thereto.