PHENOMA practical book for schools 2019 PHENOMA practical book for schools 2019 | Page 65

A Philosophical Dossier on Happiness
Natural Philosophy, On Atoms and the Void, On Love, Fundamental
Propositions 7 and many others.
AQUINAS:
Happiness is… Faith
Short biography
Philosopher and theologian ​ St. Thomas Aquinas 8 was born circa 1225 in Roccasecca,
Italy. Combining the theological principles of faith with the philosophical principles of
reason, he ranked among the most influential thinkers of medieval Scholasticism 9 . An
authority of the Roman Catholic Church and a prolific writer, Aquinas died on March 7, 1274,
at the Cistercian monastery of Fossanova, near Terracina, Latium, Papal States, Italy.
Thomas’ magnum opus, ​ Summa Theologica 10 , considers things in which man’s happiness
consists.
He wrote: “​ Consequently, for perfect happiness the intellect needs to reach the very Essence
of the First Cause. And thus it will have its perfection through union with God as with that
object, in which alone man’s happiness consists. ​ ” (​ Summa Theologica ​ )
PASCAL: Happiness is… awareness
Short biography
Blaise Pascal 11 (1623–1662) was a French philosopher, mathematician, scientist, inventor,
and theologian. In mathematics, he was an early pioneer in the fields of game theory and
7
“It is impossible to live a pleasant life without living wisely and honorably and justly, and it is impossible to live
wisely and honorably and justly without living pleasantly. Whenever any one of these is lacking, when, for
instance, the man is not able to live wisely, though he lives honorably and justly, it is impossible for him to live a
pleasant life” ( ​ Fundamental Proposition, 341-270 B.C.E​ )
“It is impossible to live a pleasant life without living wisely and honorably and justly, and it is impossible to live
wisely and honorably and justly without living pleasantly. Whenever any one of these is lacking, when, for
instance, the man is not able to live wisely, though he lives honorably and justly, it is impossible for him to live a
pleasant life” ( ​ Fundamental Proposition, 341-270 B.C.E​ )
For more details http://www.iep.utm.edu/aquinas/
The system of theology and philosophy taught in medieval European universities, based on
Aristotelian logic and the writings of the early Christian Fathers and emphasizing tradition and dogma.
8
9
10
“Man’s ultimate happiness consists in the contemplation of truth, for this operation is specific to man and is
shared with no other animals. Also it is not directed to any other end since the contemplation of truth is sought for
its own sake. In addition, in this operation man is united to higher beings (substances) since this is the only
human operation that is carried out both by God and by the separate substances (angels).”( ​ Summa Contra
Gentiles, book 3, chapter 37​ )
11
For more details http://www.iep.utm.edu/pascal-b/
3