Untitled Document

INTRODUCTION
by Mortimer J. Adler Editor's note

Each of The Great Ideas has an Introduction, an essay which serves as a guide to the topics and, through them, to the content of the references.

1. The desire for happiness: its naturalness and universality

Editor's note 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

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

(5)

(6)

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.

For: The bearing of natural desire on the pursuit of happiness,: see DESIRE 2a, 3a, 7b; LOVE 5a-5a(1); WILL 7d.

For: The relation of happiness to death and the fear of death,: see IMMORTALITY 1; LIFE AND DEATH 8a-8c.

For: Other considerations of individual happiness in relation to the state or the common good,: see GOOD AND EVIL 5d; STATE 2f.

7. The distinction between temporal and eternal happiness

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).