Part II (Pars Prima Secundae) Part 9 (1/2)
EIGHTH ARTICLE [I-II, Q. 4, Art. 8]
Whether the Fellows.h.i.+p of Friends Is Necessary for Happiness?
Objection 1: It would seem that friends are necessary for Happiness.
For future Happiness is frequently designated by Scripture under the name of ”glory.” But glory consists in man's good being brought to the notice of many. Therefore the fellows.h.i.+p of friends is necessary for Happiness.
Obj. 2: Further, Boethius [*Seneca, Ep. 6] says that ”there is no delight in possessing any good whatever, without someone to share it with us.” But delight is necessary for Happiness. Therefore fellows.h.i.+p of friends is also necessary.
Obj. 3: Further, charity is perfected in Happiness. But charity includes the love of G.o.d and of our neighbor. Therefore it seems that fellows.h.i.+p of friends is necessary for Happiness.
_On the contrary,_ It is written (Wis. 7:11): ”All good things came to me together with her,” i.e. with divine wisdom, which consists in contemplating G.o.d. Consequently nothing else is necessary for Happiness.
_I answer that,_ If we speak of the happiness of this life, the happy man needs friends, as the Philosopher says (Ethic. ix, 9), not, indeed, to make use of them, since he suffices himself; nor to delight in them, since he possesses perfect delight in the operation of virtue; but for the purpose of a good operation, viz. that he may do good to them; that he may delight in seeing them do good; and again that he may be helped by them in his good work. For in order that man may do well, whether in the works of the active life, or in those of the contemplative life, he needs the fellows.h.i.+p of friends.
But if we speak of perfect Happiness which will be in our heavenly Fatherland, the fellows.h.i.+p of friends is not essential to Happiness; since man has the entire fulness of his perfection in G.o.d. But the fellows.h.i.+p of friends conduces to the well-being of Happiness. Hence Augustine says (Gen. ad lit. viii, 25) that ”the spiritual creatures receive no other interior aid to happiness than the eternity, truth, and charity of the Creator. But if they can be said to be helped from without, perhaps it is only by this that they see one another and rejoice in G.o.d, at their fellows.h.i.+p.”
Reply Obj. 1: That glory which is essential to Happiness, is that which man has, not with man but with G.o.d.
Reply Obj. 2: This saying is to be understood of the possession of good that does not fully satisfy. This does not apply to the question under consideration; because man possesses in G.o.d a sufficiency of every good.
Reply Obj. 3: Perfection of charity is essential to Happiness, as to the love of G.o.d, but not as to the love of our neighbor. Wherefore if there were but one soul enjoying G.o.d, it would be happy, though having no neighbor to love. But supposing one neighbor to be there, love of him results from perfect love of G.o.d. Consequently, friends.h.i.+p is, as it were, concomitant with perfect Happiness.
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QUESTION 5
OF THE ATTAINMENT OF HAPPINESS (In Eight Articles)
We must now consider the attainment of Happiness. Under this heading there are eight points of inquiry:
(1) Whether man can attain Happiness?
(2) Whether one man can be happier than another?
(3) Whether any man can be happy in this life?
(4) Whether Happiness once had can be lost?
(5) Whether man can attain Happiness by means of his natural powers?
(6) Whether man attains Happiness through the action of some higher creature?
(7) Whether any actions of man are necessary in order that man may obtain Happiness of G.o.d?
(8) Whether every man desires Happiness?
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FIRST ARTICLE [I-II, Q. 5, Art. 1]
Whether Man Can Attain Happiness?
Objection 1: It would seem that man cannot attain happiness. For just as the rational is above the sensible nature, so the intellectual is above the rational, as Dionysius declares (Div. Nom. iv, vi, vii) in several pa.s.sages. But irrational animals that have the sensitive nature only, cannot attain the end of the rational nature. Therefore neither can man, who is of rational nature, attain the end of the intellectual nature, which is Happiness.