OUTLINE OF TOPICS,
REFERENCES, and
CROSS-REFERENCES
 Following the
Introduction is an Outline of Topics within The Great Idea. It states
the major themes to be found in The Great Books on that idea and exhibits
the internal structure of that idea in the relation of one topic to
another.
1. The desire for
happiness: its naturalness and universality
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Each topic in
the outline directs you to the list of references for that topic.
See Topic 1, above, for explanation of the References.
- For: Matters most relevant to the general theory of happiness,
- see GOOD AND EVIL 3a, 5a; PLEASURE AND PAIN 6-6b, 6d.
- Cross-Reference
follow some topics. The Cross-References direct you to other of
The Great Ideas in which similar and related matters are considered.
2. The understanding of happiness: definitions
and myths
a. The marks of a happy man, the quality
of a happy life
b. The content of a happy life: the
parts or constituents of happiness
(1) The contribution of the goods
of fortune to happiness: wealth, health, longevity
(2)
Pleasure and happiness
(3)
Virtue in relation to happiness
(4)
The role of honor in happiness
(5)
The importance of friendship and love for happiness
(6)
The effect of political power or status on happiness
(7)
The function of knowledge and wisdom in the happy life:
the place of speculative activity and contemplation
- For: Particular goods or virtues which are related to happiness,
- see COURAGE 5; HONOR 2b; KNOWLEDGE 8b(4); LOVE 3a; PRUDENCE 2a;
TEMPERANCE 3; VIRTUE AND VICE 1d; KNOWLEDGE 10a; WISDOM 2c;
- and for the discussion of means and ends in the order of goods,
- see GOOD AND EVIL 4b, 5b-5c;
3. The argument
concerning happiness as a first principle of morality: the conflicting
claims of duty and happiness
- For: Other treatments of the conflict between an ethics of happiness
and an ethics of duty,
- see DUTY 2; PLEASURE AND PAIN 8b; PRINCIPLE 4-4b.
4. The pursuit of happiness
a. Man's capacity for happiness: differences
in human nature with respect to happiness
- For: The bearing of natural desire on the pursuit of happiness,
- see DESIRE 2a, 3a, 7b; LOVE 5a-5a(1); WILL 7d.
b. The attainability of happiness: the
fear of death and the tragic view of human life
- For: The relation of happiness to death and the fear of death,
- see IMMORTALITY 1; LIFE AND DEATH 8a-8c.
5. The social aspects of happiness: the
doctrine of the common good
a. The happiness of the individual in
relation to the happiness or good of other men
b. The happiness
of the individual in relation to the welfare of the state: happiness
in relation to government and diverse forms of government
- For: Other considerations of individual happiness in relation
to the state or the common good,
- see GOOD AND EVIL 5d; STATE 2f.
6. The happiness of men in relation to
the gods or the after-life
7.
The distinction between temporal and eternal happiness
a. The effects of original sin: the indispensability
of divine grace for the attainment of natural happiness
b. The imperfection
of temporal happiness: its failure to satisfy natural desire
c. Eternal beatitude: the perfection
of human happiness
(2) The joy of the blessed: the communion
of saints
(3) The misery of the damned
- For: Basic notions involved in the Christian doctrine of supernatural
happiness or eternal beatitude,
- see ETERNITY 4d; GOD 6c(4), 7d, 7g; IMMORTALITY 5e-5g; LOVE
5a(2); PUNISHMENT 5d, 5e(1); SIN 3c-3d, 4d, 6d, 7; VIRTUE AND
VICE 8b, 8e; WILL 7e-7e(2).
- For: Another discussion of the beatitude of God,
- see GOD 4h.
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