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Happiness and Transcendent Happiness

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 October 2008

Stephen Theron
Stephen Theron
Affiliation:
Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität, Münster
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Extract

In this paper I first point out that happiness might of its nature be unamenable to the calculating ‘plan of life’ approach, and argue that the incompatible model of a personal search, by no means implying ‘ontological subjectivity’ though, fits in more smoothly with the idea. Secondly, I discuss the arguments assembled by Aquinas for a view of this type. I argue thirdly that although we can show there is some one thing in which all happiness consists, whatever it may be it must be incompatible with temporal life, whether or not any other is possible. Hence a discussion which excludes ‘transcendence’ will not get to grips with the concept of happiness.

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Type
Articles
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Religious Studies , Volume 21 , Issue 3 , September 1985, pp. 349 - 367
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1985

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References

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