James Park
Professor High
Films of Moral Struggle
10/7
Critical Response 3
Many people believe that money is the source of all happiness. However, Aquinas states that although wealth can provide you with material goods, a man’s happiness does not consist of wealth, honor, fame, glory, power, or pleasure. In actuality, material goods can not play a role in a man’s happiness due to the fact that the ultimate goal of a man’s will can not be found in any living thing but God. Before we define happiness, we should define enjoyment first. The difference between the two is that enjoyment concerns the satisfactions of physical pleasures and worldly goods, but these tend to provide only temporary satisfaction. Despite possessing every worldly good and …show more content…
On the other hand, imperfect happiness is attainable in this lifetime, a view of Aquinas that displays much influence of Aristotle’s belief. Aristotle and Aquinas both believe that happiness is determined by a person’s natural abilities. The most exceptional ability the human possesses is reason, which states that we can achieve happiness in this life relative to the level of truth open to the influence of reason. Aristotle differs from Aquinas in that Aristotle believe that it was possible to achieve happiness in this life. Aquinas held onto the belief that true happiness can only be achieved in heaven when one has a visual experience with God. On the other hand, Aquinas believes that there is an imperfect happiness that is the flawed counterpart of which closely resembles perfect happiness. This does not mean that human nature is to be corrupted with the deficit of natural goodness. It is due to our impulses that we seek God and numerous impulses that weigh us down to worldly goods and physical pleasures that do not provide complete satisfaction. Aquinas believes that we can prepare ourselves by the habituation …show more content…
Chris Gardner, the protagonist, is seen achieving “imperfect happiness” when he is given the highly respected full time position as a successful broker. After enduring the hardships of being a divorced single homeless man with a son to nurture, Gardner’s hard work and habituation of faith and the love for his son inspired himself to continue towards his goal and beyond. Another film that parallels with the common theme of happiness is The Passion of Joan of Arc. Joan is a fierce military general who is threatened to blackmail herself or be kill by public execution. Not intimidated, Joan refuses to be belittled by the French court during her trial for heresy and stands bravely against the threats. Although not culpable for her confession because she was mistreated under trial, Joan is eventually executed after refusing to sacrifice her beliefs given by God to banish the English from France. Her firmness in her claims of following God allowed her to exercise her virtue of faith in the absolute being, allowing her to pass onto the afterlife towards happiness. It is through the will of Joan’s desire to complete God’s mission that allowed her to stand most firmly. This is because the object of the will is what is universally good and this can be found in only God alone. Aristotle’s notion of voluntary and involuntary actions is relatable to this in the sense that
Professor High
Films of Moral Struggle
10/7
Critical Response 3
Many people believe that money is the source of all happiness. However, Aquinas states that although wealth can provide you with material goods, a man’s happiness does not consist of wealth, honor, fame, glory, power, or pleasure. In actuality, material goods can not play a role in a man’s happiness due to the fact that the ultimate goal of a man’s will can not be found in any living thing but God. Before we define happiness, we should define enjoyment first. The difference between the two is that enjoyment concerns the satisfactions of physical pleasures and worldly goods, but these tend to provide only temporary satisfaction. Despite possessing every worldly good and …show more content…
On the other hand, imperfect happiness is attainable in this lifetime, a view of Aquinas that displays much influence of Aristotle’s belief. Aristotle and Aquinas both believe that happiness is determined by a person’s natural abilities. The most exceptional ability the human possesses is reason, which states that we can achieve happiness in this life relative to the level of truth open to the influence of reason. Aristotle differs from Aquinas in that Aristotle believe that it was possible to achieve happiness in this life. Aquinas held onto the belief that true happiness can only be achieved in heaven when one has a visual experience with God. On the other hand, Aquinas believes that there is an imperfect happiness that is the flawed counterpart of which closely resembles perfect happiness. This does not mean that human nature is to be corrupted with the deficit of natural goodness. It is due to our impulses that we seek God and numerous impulses that weigh us down to worldly goods and physical pleasures that do not provide complete satisfaction. Aquinas believes that we can prepare ourselves by the habituation …show more content…
Chris Gardner, the protagonist, is seen achieving “imperfect happiness” when he is given the highly respected full time position as a successful broker. After enduring the hardships of being a divorced single homeless man with a son to nurture, Gardner’s hard work and habituation of faith and the love for his son inspired himself to continue towards his goal and beyond. Another film that parallels with the common theme of happiness is The Passion of Joan of Arc. Joan is a fierce military general who is threatened to blackmail herself or be kill by public execution. Not intimidated, Joan refuses to be belittled by the French court during her trial for heresy and stands bravely against the threats. Although not culpable for her confession because she was mistreated under trial, Joan is eventually executed after refusing to sacrifice her beliefs given by God to banish the English from France. Her firmness in her claims of following God allowed her to exercise her virtue of faith in the absolute being, allowing her to pass onto the afterlife towards happiness. It is through the will of Joan’s desire to complete God’s mission that allowed her to stand most firmly. This is because the object of the will is what is universally good and this can be found in only God alone. Aristotle’s notion of voluntary and involuntary actions is relatable to this in the sense that