Earthly Happiness

Definition: According to St. Thomas Aquinas, some happiness can be attained on earth. This imperfect happiness is called felicitas. With this being said, perfect happiness is not able to be fully realized until reaching Heaven. This kind of flawless Godly happiness is called beatitudo and can only be found through Reason and virtue. These virtues must include both the Aristotelian virtues and theological virtues (“Thomas Aquinas”). St. Thomas Aquinas bridges the ideas of St. Augustine, who believed that happiness is completely insurmountable on earth, and Aristotle, who believed that humans were created for happiness.

Importance: St. Thomas Aquinas lived during a time when people were unsure of what branch of philosophy to be true. There was confusion about whether Aristotle’s pagan philosophy was credible enough to alter the status quo of Augustinian philosophy. Figures like St. Thomas Aquinas are helpful leaders for the public to look to for help during times of transition or contradictory views. He does not negate one side and confirm the other, but instead shows how the two views of earthly happiness can coexist.

source: http://www.pursuit-of-happiness.org/history-of-happiness/thomas-aquinas/