Reply Obj. 1:  That glory which is essential to Happiness, is that which man has, not with man but with God.

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 God a sufficiency of every good.

Reply Obj. 3:  Perfection of charity is essential to Happiness, as to the love of God, but not as to the love of our neighbor.  Wherefore if there were but one soul enjoying God, 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 God.  Consequently, friendship is, as it were, concomitant with perfect Happiness. ________________________

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 God?

(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 passages.  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.

Obj. 2:  Further, True Happiness consists in seeing God, Who is pure Truth.  But from his very nature, man considers truth in material things:  wherefore “he understands the intelligible species in the phantasm” (De Anima iii, 7).  Therefore he cannot attain Happiness.

Obj. 3:  Further, Happiness consists in attaining the Sovereign Good.  But we cannot arrive at the top without surmounting the middle.  Since, therefore, the angelic nature through which man cannot mount is midway between God and human nature; it seems that he cannot attain Happiness.

On the contrary, It is written (Ps. 93:12):  “Blessed is the man whom Thou shalt instruct, O Lord.”

I answer that, Happiness is the attainment of the Perfect Good.  Whoever, therefore, is capable of the Perfect Good can attain Happiness.  Now, that man is capable of the Perfect Good, is proved both because his intellect can apprehend the universal and perfect good, and because his will can desire it.  And therefore man can attain Happiness.  This can be proved again from the fact that man is capable of seeing God, as stated in the First Part (Q. 12, A. 1):  in which vision, as we stated above (Q. 3, A. 8) man’s perfect Happiness consists.