The Angelic Doctor on Urbanism

A regular reader sent me some choice quotes on cities and urbanism from St. Thomas Aquinas:

[T]hat city enjoys a greater measure of peace whose people are more sparsely assembled together and dwell in smaller proportion within the walls of the town, for when men are crowded together it is an occasion for quarrels and all the elements for seditious plots are provided. Hence, according to
Aristotle’s doctrine, it is more profitable to have the people engaged outside the cities than for them to dwell constantly within the walls. But if a city is dependent on trade, it is of prime importance that the
citizens stay within the town and there engage in trade. It is better, therefore, that the supplies of food be furnished to the city from its own fields than that it be wholly dependent on trade.

   - Thomas Aquinas, De regno ad regem Cypri (II,iii).

A further requisite when choosing a site for the founding of a city is this, that it must charm the inhabitants by its beauty. A spot where life is pleasant will not easily be abandoned nor will men commonly be ready to flock to unpleasant places, since the life of man cannot endure without enjoyment. It belongs to the beauty of a place that it have a broad expanse of meadows, an
abundant forest growth, mountains to be seen close at hand, pleasant groves and
a copiousness of water.  However, if a country is too beautiful, it will draw men to indulge in
pleasures, and this is most harmful to a city. In the first place, when men give themselves up to pleasure their senses are dulled, since this sweetness immerses the soul in the senses so that man cannot pass free judgment on the things which cause delight. Whence, according to Aristotle’s sentence [Eth. Nic. VI, 5: 1140b 11-21], the judgment of prudence is corrupted by pleasure."

   - Thomas Aquinas, De regno ad regem Cypri (II,iv).

So, the city should be pretty, but not too pretty.  Hmmm.  Candidates, anyone?  The "mountains" criterion rules out much of the land, including my own South Bend.  Portland and Santa Fe might be too beautiful.  Hmmm.  "Where would St. Thomas live?"

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