happiness and contemplation - josef pieper

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$

JOF PPR

H C

anad

Rard and ara Wnn

"The ultimate of hman happiness ito be fond in cotemplation.

In off r i n g t h i s p r op os i t i on of

hoa Aqia to o thoght, Josef

Piepr uses traditioal wisdom in orderto thro light o pret-day realit

and preentday cological pro

lems Wat, in act, does one pse

in prsing happines? Wat, the

consensus of the wisdom o te earl

Greeks, of Plato ad Aristotle, of th

New Testamt, o Atine and

qinas, i that condition of perect

bliss toward which all lie and eot

tend b nature?

In this profond ad illmiatig i

qui, Dr. Pie consids t nat

of onteplation, and the meaning and

oal of life



T. S ELIOT on JosEF PIEER

"His sentenes are admirably onstructed, his ideas expressedwith the mxmum arity. Buhis mind is submissive to wt

e beieves t be the geat th�man tradition of Europeanthouht ... He restores to theirposition in phlosophy wat ommon sense obstinately tes

us ought to be ound there: in- sight and wisdom"

rinted in U.S.A



HPP D CMPL



CONTENTS

T he ultate of hun ppins i to be fond

contmplatin. W s "pins to n w en oriny mn y m. r, in anggs trm ns r ny. vrtees, w n ly d lnsp w nk grtaton of any tirs lm bde

Pae

II

Man dsir ppins by nr, t is, in e ae

mnnr te ng sn " p. Byntr ns: by virt o s rin Frdnd rvng ppns. e oof ravng te r o mn. one amk il ppy Hppin i a gt ne o

age e pee appy mn Pae

III

God d appin e m tggrng n

cin: Go' ai nt trld y vl te hitor word Bt van wo e inon ere wr ot, at te ure of ea t

7



nens

ney pare ve Be Te rea di-e joy e oy reality Page

V

e wole energy of uman nature nge dr. Hpiss as a ik, apies a dig.Satiaio i exece fom omeere ele." Te'ole good." e ie i i by virue of ate satiableuness e prtake of Go Hime

Page

vapiess a joy are wo iere tig. Joy iessetilly scodary te respose to appiess. egoods c we sek eve a te cos of joy. Never

ee joy as o upose beyon tse.Page

V

Hapi ma: attaiig e wole goo." Bat i mea by aaiig? Hape as a elt f acig a oig udmeta ositios m fci; eci m reza-to; ealiza coms by acg. cig a rmaiin. e ok oes absrb e crtor. Pae

V

woy apy m i oe wo ee. e oppo

8



Contents

n he nee ha hey be ecoge o ha eare. Grad Maey Hopkin. The eage epe

nced by inuiion i cocable Page 76

XI

Rly o he counrargen of he pacc anIn h do lie islf cosis oce he ea of llhod hae bn o? Morliy pos byonsl oig m: o ds he bloed o beh d h is iui I is no possile o mly c i h lciy of he ace

m s h o lics Pacicecoms mls a so s is hoh o b an·d isl. h pacc o h is: hnoh i shd, i us b prcb ha h? I dnoosss more han possessio? Is

oy mr impoan han i reon? Anaxagors: Were bon for eeing. ge 89

XI

Te same chaaceric are o e oun n he nuiie an he happy man. ipciy. The ep o f ime eeing in ie mak o hapines. Thelosd sh. Fdo rm eer. eorg Sanayana: croing in inuiio. Page z

XII

ug he ighmindd psn nounce e ecae



W t at a utitude of eanings o pop spa of apnes. They ih t to one anothr oeddings an brthdys at ptings on the s a e ear. Te entetinment industy pv ts onsuers" reades sectatos an s rs uerabl stoes of apinss rat

rosse an at las ahieved. Populr songs auor avly nfor very g at t eans to a

a apy. The wo rops up alra sowat oldfshioned foula of e graes

appess for t greatest nube" an - stoes prolaiming veron's rigt o appiss1yoe ognant of ts lter of possbl a b extemly suied o ome upo th a saten at an's ulat apnss onsis

oelaton.s state prsy a ar r

e t.It ontn a e oo of a as

onepto of the ne of an ea uan xtene. s o o sa porn a sat



em

s fo a boo b hoas, his agains h pagans.2 Of fa grae ipoan

h fa ha his dea belongs o a so of ad-iona widom whos roo goes deepe ha hsor-a ie and perhas furhr han h hua - ain. f in hese pages w frequen hoasAqas we do no ean hi o spea priarl fo himef. He is inended as he winess fo ha adonhough o b sure, a winess of xao-inary ran. Nor is our sudy h a on- erned wih hiorial apes. Rahe our on

s wih e l a aemen as upon h rea y we enoner, and upon e rea whih w are oursves.

W o n oo soon diard our srpris a e rooiion a onemplaion s mn's ima happinsoh no dimis i ay by deiding a happines i man here in some seia sen wi nin in omon wi evyday

anu. Fo wo we win aew o evn mo ivi ani ap es. vn a n niy, a i n in j i.

s von ae o b n n a ena o n.he Geek ongue ms be oed makes a

1 4



e em

qu ncton whch en norou rang o pctru of anng of the wor han.

or her a Gre wor whch enote xu v th hape of th o: on th go r s But th rvatv or s,hch baca hou enote en' har n t trae hane of te o too on uc vgar anng n cooqa Ge tat the otAech an Sohoce c avo tTe econ Gree wor dimon, a n or ar eech ean the an who h one al

ouh orgna t referre to the gnc of an' guaran t an hence to the unatura ource of hane. Incental th Greek NeTetant oe not once ue te wo daion,

dion th Beattue a ewhre mkos, mres a k n Vugat the wo fi a fis o not occr on the paae wo bs an b

d But a ue n cooqual Lat ven th

or rtua ethet a ean athng fro b of Go to the bs oo, sd doo, sd pos fona. (Be th wo o ho t ee)

a thn to avo ch at b oog apn" to b" or beattue. " The atr or t r gn trct a t

1 5



e

a a s cur r ar sam sct als sts r tt a

t actua usag blss" s r mu a r Lat a r r s t asm, salss, carsss, a baal

Tr s vtlss a uama sgcac

c sul vr b vr, ry ac a a sgl r, appss, " cmprs sc arty f mags: mmrta rcss v l an ma's par t, as ll t pttatsact a tng sr. W vtur t -

r a ts ambguty rcts srcr tl f rat. t. Tmas p s ay: Arat g s a rct t ucra g attamt a crat g a rc

attu.4 N t atam ra g" s

g tat as cstatly, a a tusa ar rms. It aps vr a rsty ma rs, nvr a qustnr rcvs a as llumat, nvr lvrs ar tgtr, vr a ts s bt t a succssfl cnc an a as fut. h me ca tsass, " ty ar cls t t sgt tat ac

racat ns t t utma ne an at al anss as sm cnct t trnal batu. Sm cnctn, f ny ths tt vey u



e em

ent tis side of Heaven instanty eveas ts inadequacy. It is ediatey evident tat suc

satisactons ae not enoug; tey ae not wat w ave eay sougt; ey cannot eay satisy s at a.

d Gde noted in is ]ornas Te teibe ting s tat we can neve ake ouseves dun enoug5 We ay say tis o evey o in toxication nt ony tat of te senes ut o wat and t wat end is it nt enog? Wy s tis insuciency so tebe? Toug a te vgaiza

tion o te cncet o ainess a coded but un istakabe eage enetates to us a ende of e te and te eann o ane S too te ae ay endng s ntn but te oddamonik e

of te Geek ytees tans ated nto te jagon o te intenaona otion pctue audence; te oga sgncance is sti tee conceaed bt decieae ovea toug t is by at s ase and tady It is eve uttey

ost; it can aways beak toug unexectedy li waein e.

ne ake te stateen a conteto

s ans utiate aes and say to onese:Vey we obviousy ts ees t te aness te piosoe. ' Undenab tee oes exs

1



m

son; that dea apears t them sl pos atnmus srt. Only f e nderstan

an as a created beng t the very depths of hsprtal exstence can we meanngflly cncevehat the ll has nt the pwer t nt want happess.

t then what abt freedom of the ll t s ths respect nfree? There are tw pnts t beade First the natral desre fr hainess sprngsfr om the nnermst cre f man's beng11 t cncerns man's ver wn wll nrestrcted b any ex

teal cerc And therere t is ree ecndlythis desre ints right thrugh the hman heartback t an ultmate rgn whch s nt human Manhas nt b hs n reslve set in mtin hs desre

fr hapness t has nt been given t hm t esre therse And therere reedm s nt therght ter here There s n avding the trbe-smeness f such cmlexty; the subj ect cannt bereduced to smle frmla The cncept f free

dm to reveals a ne aspect when we thnk of t cnnectn wth man's createdness. Even Sthomas great clarer as he s culd nly statehe mae hs he ill ves eem fr

felcty athugh t stves fr t by necessty.n desrng happness then e are beyng gvttonl plse hose axis s entrely th



Hanss and Cotato

o own heas. t hve no powe ove becase e orseves ae this gavitationa impuse

hen we desie to be happy somethig bind obsce takes place ithin the mid whicnevertheless does ot cease to be a light ad seeingeye. Smethig hapes behid" which we cannot peetrate whse reas we d t see ad fhich we ca ame o reaso. Wh do ou watto be happ? W do not askbecase no onekows the aswer.

lato sas precisely this i the Smpsm/3 i

the dialue betwee Diotima ad Scrates: fe who lves lves the god hat is it the that eoves?' he pssessin of the good' said. dhat des he gai who possesses the gd? ' Happi

ness' eplied there is less dcly i aswerigthat qesti.' Yes' she said the happy ae madehapp by the acquisitio of good thigs. N isthere ay eed o ask why a ma desies happiess;he aswe is already al. ' "

om the vatage poit of this nsight t ppemost odd to sa that ma s needy beig" ony s far as he belgs t the sesua word."athe the thirst of man's spiit fo happiess e

veals the iadeqacy ad neediess of ma as ceae fa mre plaily ad poigatl tha the needsof he bodywhich by comparison resemble the



i d otto

hec symbls the rfund nnhumanity thesubmerged aniety the senile rgidit the tensin

f such an atttude d u admratin becmetged ith cnsteatin and h t becaarent t us h clsely such selfsuciencyverges n desa Suse he lacks his miserablebread? hat des that matte t ne wh lacks ntthe knwledge f hw t g t his death?" Thissentence t may be fund in Seneca's bk nthe hay life1

Finally when it is said that man by nature seekhainess the statemet bvisl imlies that bynature he des t re ssess it n the resent lie erfect hiess cat be" Man is n

ha by virue his beig er his hle e-istence is deermied reise b e nnssessinf ultimate graici h er al is the signicance f the ccet sus viaris. T existas mn mes t be te w" d therefre t

be nny23Nral mn des nt cease t be man when

he reches the gal f his a But it remis truethat te cncet n ern sm

tesly is Eterl est c be grsed b u limied minds nstited as we are we are in-caabe f een cnceig as an embdied realit

2



ppie d Cotepto

the pefectly happy an that s to say one hosethst has been ally quenched and ho nevethe-

less continues to be a livig huan being.Thee s only one Being that s hay by see existece. To od aone ay perect beat-ude be ttbuted y vtue of s natue."2

8



Hass d Cotao

whle unde dicussin the quetn f theslii the ulimae grud beig is raised

Thi i cnrmed m anther agle The mindcnsderig the curse the wld the mnd seekg cheency an lunged mre ad mre heel t cusin b the icherencies therld will in the end ieiably be temted tthnk (ad thi temtain cmes recsely t theeees ad mst csistet thiers) : d s ntat e wih Himsel is ha

Tha cece i he whleess beig n

the her ha whih s is ulimae srtn the abslute haiess is i wa avali simicai hisrial reali ahee ma ay tha ar rm simiig higs i re

eal them a enrmus mre micae adtagicnce the ncmrehensiby evil n theld becme fully aarent agaist the backgund f the destructible haiess d.Nevethele, thi belief mean that au Cla-

de6 h fulated t The terble d n the end tuth eha sad' " miss the unde-ying ealty f the wrld; that, athe, the gede y [] the only ea."



pie d Cotplto

constatl nds smthg outsd hmslf; ddthat h nt l ds to rcv and to turn to

that smth prptuall ut that also sharscstatl t.Nor can ma quch hs thrst hs own dg

ad g rght rtu s ts own rward"; thavng dn t s th rcmpns for what s dnrghtl"ths agan s th vc of Snca.6 Do wnt agr Ds n th moral act trul cfr satsfactn whc maks fr dpr happnss thanan gft that on man can transmt t anthr No

on ds ths But what th ccdtal thr fappnss lds s ths: that ma cat lv bsuc appss. Th dpst thrst cat alad n ths wa; th tru xpcttn of th h

man art wll nt accpt such a susttut Whrv sc n tttud has bn ttmptd osstd t as n ca and mposdcaust as somthg agast natur. Th Ttan's"arroganc whc wants thng s gft dmands

n alt not too much ut too ttlths s trsurprsn thug t ma at rst sm. Sc o-ganc s too soo contntd; t gs bd t grass of man

In hs Cy f G Augst mrks tt n-cnt posop od no ss tn two nd



Hape ad Cotpto

hmas, has th pwr t ngndr an nnitcraving10ad that mas: lusr spctr

th dsir fr happinss.W miht al mtin athr nsight f his,tsd cauall as if it wr altthr slfvidt his i his rpudiatin f th prnniaviw that xstc itlf is happinss, that salvatin ma quatd with phsical xistc. haviw is ultimatl th hiddn prmis f th ttalitarian dasmt f ma t a factr f prductin,f ilim i vr frm, f t tndc t

mak a rligi ut f pchthrap. Thmas sawthat a i vul drctd tward smthigls cant pl hav as hi ultimat gal thprrvatin f hs n xistnc. In th

wrds, th allaing f th thirt cant cnsistimpl in th mr cntinud xistnc f tthrtr.

Hw surpriig, t, is th thught that thhapp prn cat judd and hc al can

nt prad a l W d nt praishm w ha attaid t ultimat al3; h r-qurs mthi ttr tha prai1 d thr-fr, sas hmas, happiss cant cit in

lr," fr t hav glr mans t praid15 anjudd sur, lr fr Gd gra inits ull sns, is l athr nam fr atitud it

36



ppie Cotepto

heir ives n cmplete rdered cmmhere the ma prse thir rk umprille

nd ej thr lisr with dit." Wld thst be uh Bt srl it is tpia dramTre eh. Yet wh we sa: N, all tht s nehwe ar t si this becas e feesc cditis ct b ralized. Neithr d men that extal pssssis sch as alth, -tellectal gfts, hr, ad pace re nt tre ds.Ths even Thmas ss: Anne h refrinedfrm ie t sch n extt tht he sevr trie

ntre wld n sme measre incr gilt.0Tmas wld therefre s: Tr, thse dsre nt isicant; nevertheless, the d nt sf-ce if e csider t grtcatin tard whic

man's re nd deepst tirst is drected. Frther-mre, it is nt tht Gd hs prmised d mde c-cessible t mn a sptral hppiness hic -easrbl nd icmprehensibl srpasses pssbilities f grticatin in the ite wrld. N-

rall Thmas hlds ths pii, r rathr, thisbif. Bt t w ar nt forma csidritis belif. Hre all tht we r saig is : an se is cstttd, endwd he is with thrst f

happss, cant hv his thirst qchd n tht ralm; ad if thiks r avs as f thtwere pssil, e s misndrstndg himslf, e

J 8



Hi d Cotatio

is acting conta to his own natu. T wholold wold not suc this natual" natu of

an. If th whol wold w givn to him, ould hav to sa, and would sa: It is too littl.oo littl, that is, to gatif ntil th pow ofdsi, o ot wods, too littl to mak hiapp.

What, thn, is t dink known as happinsswhich can ultimatl suc this thist of th wholhman ing longxpctd answ is : God.

But homas dos not t gi this answ. And liv his postponmnt" of th asw calls foction. It is atogth tpial of homas, andhas to do with his atioal soit which at tims

has n attiutd to a lck of spiiualt. In ait, this v hsitanc, it sms to m, spins foligious oots. H intposs a concpt whic wust scutiniz; onl thn can w appciat thtmndous impo of th answ. homas thn,

os not sa at onc: God. H sas : n ns.

This phas is not as to tanslat accuatl. gna goo o goo g,"

ould fa too wak and almost mislading. FoThomas dos not man anthing astact; h ansothing xtml conct which is at th sa

39



apie d Cotpato

c ceeds e limts of creion"2 e repies in his fsion: Cpt met grsp m

ve wo mgson h oe hd th cpcio receive somethig from outsd no oesf ombrce i o tk d give shelter withne self. On he othr d apt m sen e power of hvig somethig outsid nbec. f we undrstd the cpcit of mn's ind e rs sense, hen it s mted o he spre ofcretion; b n e second sense reces beondretion no he iie.26 The logic of i s -

eccble. u does no explin nythig l. nl formltes once in e prdoc e o r

sin b e n god er ppness or beidend l e oer ne nguge s proponded for he -e lllmen of mn: e Lfe eeren e Lg r

ece vo



ae d Coteao

ossesson of the erfect good s the essenc of ness tself."5

We have dstgished between te drn nhe act of drkg Ths mage mmedatel maeslan that the dr known haness," whcs somethg otsde of the sol, aq xt a canot be eqated wth o. Bt t s also tretht haness as drkng," whch le o s nct of the sol, aq ama s lso somethngderent from o. We mght rse te mage nth folowng wa: Jst s the state of vng

drn ad the good taste of the drn are two dfferent thngs, so too haess and o are two dffeent thngs.

oeover, ths de once agan nderlnes

ct tht o s essentall conseqece, s essentl resonse to the attament of good; n ndvdal cases t ma even be erroneos resonsebt t ws onts back to the orga and ecedng case It s not, ten, an llsoar sort of

dsarate emotos Imled, too, s farreachngoncomtant: codece th rea" of fontntes n gral. Ad bod u wth t s thonvcton that a attemt to acqure o

needed," lke drug, s holssl vahere s frther dcaton that o does not oc h hghest rank n the ogca seres : namel



aie teat

e goods which w dsir vn togossssion of them dos not ild j o Ths r t

goods wic we crve b our vr nte precislys w cv ppinss; we m lso s tht teye dict componnts of th substnc of pp-ess Wht goods miht ts be Toms -ons sight, mmor, knoled, bing good7; scrcel intnds complt lit, lthouh his choicesr not ccidtl hr of ths four ids rfr twrnss of rlit: wrss b sig kno-ig, rmmrig We wt to kow th trut t

n cost evn if th truth should b fritful should dd t onc, howevr, tht I v not ex-ctl rproducd St homss thouht spks th suuctive: w woul v dsir crti

goo if th wr ot to ild jo, eams neea x s eqerer.8 For th truth is thtnowedg evn of frihtful thins stiss ten rt i suc mnr tht evn r spk of j o

ut in tht cs, too oy is somtng ditionsomthing scondr

o if som rson not covinc the pr

vious rguments, should fr to is nnr xpr-nc nd s: ut w obviousl do not sk joy s t seting se bt soething lt

7



ppi Cotplto

xisene. is no mere quait no pure ivi no simp ee4 is somehi

kes pae the ae ore o he mid.We have posed he questio i ha wa mwe oeive appropiatio d osumi i hemer in question is no an ppe bu he wholeood A st eemen o he aswer laid don biden rdiion would be he aaie o his ood hh we a happiess us ake pe tion appiness is n d tivi o he sou.5

u hs i no been sid h happiess is als i this s true he how a i simuaeouslbe our ow ion To his questio Spaniscommetto on he Summa Thega our hun

red es o ave n ser whih is s perspicious as i s simpe sih ere ven o bindmn he oud neveheess see ih his on sense sih We eed no dd word o his epl

The u oe o his ide o happiess as aionmeres st oe ear when e see tha i isinked ohesive oia stuue ith several te ts tas n

d reat enea These ae aove a the oloi hee popostios Firs Happiness meanerfen. ssei o he oept o happiess is

5 3



ppie d Contepltio

hih ema hien with the doer himselperha hiey s ruit o isiht, as a verb

rdis Pera this uit an ow oy in theorse o a mans deai with the iae or reistat matte o a, or ottr ay, or mare has thi is the o wa i hih it angow A may it ot that i this pressi

inr,16 i this ia rutiati, is th truybeatiyi eement whih w rit asie to ll reative ativity?

To reat the ativity in whih e reive thedrink whih is haiss is it natu a ativitywhose eets wok inwa his aot e otheise, or oy in su ativity do t ati er

on ataize himse Ation whih ahs otwar eret the wok athr tha t s hot Under those iumstas what ha it the peretion o the work os not ue the reator; he i odeme to retn to

lee ego17



VI

t The essence of happiness consss a ac of elec. 1

Abrupy he gne s as dow. Thomas pror o be givng precsey o-ordinae reply ohe osed queson. The challenging aure of hee s raher sressed a migaed by h

andnss of e dcum. Ad if ricsm and obeions sing o mind as soo as we reec ponhe senece, nohing s moe aura. For his s oohnd remak.

Wh is mpic s senee? This mci: he fulllmen of exisence akes place haner whch e become wre of realiy; heol en o ou ein is uimay decedoward aainen of sigh. The erfecy hapy

erso, he oe whose hrs ha been nlyueched, wo has aaned beaiudeis pesos one ho sees. The happiess e encing, eerfecio, conss n his seeing.

Ahough s rue h l s s rimariy referece o "ee bs (rmarily b oxusvey w e or bo



ppi ad Cotpltio

ese re roosons wc wod seem e cn seriosy cone. Toms oo recogs

er cogency nd e as formed hs own esexressy i e o s coneroson Orrer e sef deelos e oosng rgmennd en s e us cknoedges e prores s an enricmen o is on og(Ts as ue supeioiy of e nellec eer reeld islf For he sl mens s dcconceing e essence of ness o be ken snds. So cegorcl s e bo s dscs

so ends o ncrese or dobs; we fee resre e s gone oo fr s rsed o bso woe w s ony r ec of mrnd so on. If for exme someone so

y (s did Hug of S. Vicor3) "To know rud oe e go d s nes consiss wmg k h on od dsgree erw nb r whc reconces conrdo. Bu Toms s s o one; e doe dsgree. e remse s ccebe e wod yonl e wods re ke n n exended senseke excly e remse fse. For i wc essenlly comrses ness is men

e I i canno ossly conss n n c ofe wll4 ccording o oms pness conss cognie ciy nd noing se.

6



Hin d olation

oas foraed is dea many mes ndfreny wh an mpasis a is nusua for

5 Ye e woe ins oud be os on s fw ook i as merey a pe noon of e auor'so of he speca feaures of is eory For na case wod neres anyone bu e eanedsecas?) Toas was conceed i aricuang a precep idde iin e rea adon andways hreaened by obvion ony aains ebackground of s recep does e reaive aceaby of persona opnons emere a s

der discsso er s noin ess an e nnersrucre of an naure ndeed of e spiri ngenera and of reay as a oe a is, nongess is under dscsson an e umae quesio

wc as aways roubed uan reason, n ssearc for wisdo in is phisphia.Bu wa in precise ers is Toas assering

when e says a appness akes e fom ofonion? Ta s made manifes by a sine senence ich e anses is on objecons Herefers o a senence of Augusne's from e aer'sbook on e riniaian God, a senence of asrkn sc , o see, ony e

greaes nkes can inscrbe: Beaus e ui habenia uae vu. Srpassiny apy is e hoas veryn h wans From is woud seem

6



Hainss n ontpation

h yu my s 14 r wl rwr is sig,t eres nosr visi es. 15

Su s, srrsg t ts wh tkhe usul viw Tms Augst, illmints th xtt t wi tis cpt t tureo kwig is th cmmn prprt t c-cidtl mi

Th ais civd he whl rgy fhum tr s ugr ugr r wht? Fr big, r uiis tlity, r cmlt

relztwh is t ttibl i t sut'sslt xst, r cn b scu ly bykig it t sl te ivrsl rlity ugr ist twar t rl uvers, he uivers

in its litrl ss, twrd he hl big, twr vrtg th exists e hve all bcmecustm t sidr this prpsitin frm nil pit vie, o ke h sttmt tgrtivly spirituly, ad tus t lsiy or

simpl blitrt its litrl, spcic mnig T bsur, priipl rqutly lurks bi suh ilizti: mly, th sir nt mit tt mas spiitul bg ca be dy ll I p

o fct t wr uger shul be rst ints mst rstic litrl sens. In s fr h exissspitull, mn esire siion b elit;

6



apnss and ontpaon

ts o hv lity; h hugrs thwhl, lngs t b l to ltin S urius

this hung tht it wul hv to b ll srt i tr wr sttl mtysis, it hs b si, ws mtivt

hiy by tis n qusti w s rlity to bttin ; how r w t btin n riv it; howis it to b grs, rrit, irrt,possss s rrty urslvs? This is therbm onq d ', t qust tuli.1 An th swr is gitin, siritul

insigt For Tms wll s r Augusti, gnitin s ssntilly sizur o t wr grsing o lity.17 To knw is by t nr kwng to hv; thr is no rm hvig in wh

h ob t is mor intnsly grs. In Thms wmor thn on8 t rsitin tt kwingis the highst m vig But this, w mkhst to , is nt bus tt mo ving isth most spiritultis woul n gin b

iling misonstrution, into whih e lmost nssily to ll. th, knowg is thhighs o o hving bcus t wol thes no t m s toggg wg s n

only ppopitin whih slts n popy dpritoship. It is similtion in t qit xns t th obtive worl, in so s it s

6



Hpss otpto

wys ssry, tt s sgt lv bms prst t t w s

by t wl trug smtg thr t t fwil vs r t Summa Teia Ts tr, hwvrw ry kwt swrts r is gt

T b s, gi its s my ms grs It s r tt w t ry, prk t, mr b wrss, smpy bykwg bt smhg; w t v bti it by gy rrvg t usi Rlty

is he priz slly t gs rm f gti, th is: sig, itt, tmplti. ll ve re sy f tis ltr But i y cse,eig is c f t itlt A

rems uskbly vli tt pssss w lv tks p fr us trug gtiI wul sm tht lgug s bsicy ly

wr t srb wt y pps wwe rlize t prs tr prs T

wr is sig v im br ur eys,w se im All tr wrs r tr sptil mprs (rss, sss) r rv rm teses , h, b

ctt) Tht s s, rr t xrlis. A rt t i prisrfr cps sts w vrst btw t pri

69



Hes a otelto

sn vd tt mks r iss Tt is, witut v tr s n ss tr wr

sprk f ssnt nd rmti, tr ul tvn b t ssibilty f issitr i tmd f sig nr i y r wy v is tnisnsbl rmis ss (wvr, tmust ls b sid tt s t v nnt b uy Fr t ss uiss ist filur t ssss wt lvs Evn tsrrw t m is t srrw srtinfrm tt wi ty stll stly lv) v,

tn, is nssry r inss but it is ntnugh nly t rs wt is lvd mksus y, n tt prsn is tulz by twr giti

It my vry wll b, wvr tt t pw f sig itsl is ly stirr t ull rlizt bylv hr lv is, tr s t y," bi orb ols ( wul guss tis t b rsf Augustis But i t t ms rm t m

ntry n t Senenes writt by TmsAquins s yug m9) T mg is ttr r tigs wi t vr l srvs ; bubv l, tt t lvr rts s wi

r witl frm ll trsw s t sy tigr pttltis r inss r n t nyn ls Nvtlss, n mtt w

7



Te L ords onempao, onempar, corespo to th Grk wrds eora, eoren.

Cicero, Sc, d udutdly my tr lssmous writers estblishd the wrs co-ordite with the erlir cid Grk wrds the cours o those comprsive lrs o trs

ltio which chrctrid th rly history o thet est

eo hs to d with the purly rcptive pproch to rlity, o ltogthr idpdt o

ll prcticl ims i ctiv l my cll thispproch disitrstd, i tht it is ltgther divorced rm utilitri ds I ll thr rspcts,hover, teo emphtilly ivlvs itrest,piciptio, ttti, purpsivss eoa

d ontempao dvote tir ull rgy t e-vlig, clriyig, d mkig mist th rlitywhic hs b sigted; thy i t trth dnt ls is is t rst lmt t cpt

cotepltio: silt prptio o rety secod is the llwg Ctempltio is or o wig rrive t t by thikig b by

3



ppiss d Coteto

cting basis of everythng tht ests. The Cistinof course, would be able to speak of a speci n-

ne of intuitig" God in he idst of he stoicworld Fr hm earthy cotemplati mens bovl: tht back of mmedate pheoen, n ihihem, the Face of he nct vine Logo s

vise.

So far, howev, we have said noting bot conrete form n hic erthy conteplton tuazd

For a momet we mght be empted o disin-gs mog severa basic forms: eligous con-templat, poetic, philosophal, nd o on. u soon becoms evdet that sch catgorizaton doe

not tl us ver muh. The cmmn eleen proveo be re cria tha the dssimilarities; an y well ask whethe y of the dissimilaries essetial Ave a, it is meailss to distiguishbetwe reius d nors conteplation.Tht ca fairly convly deontrted.

We have sad that lvig kowedge, seeing hbeoved oject, s the sse of coteplaton.

This, aturay, is a smatn which migh besunderstood To e sure, wherever eeing thebeoved obect" ocs, there is ppeasen n

S



Haiss a omaon

bve all, tee is a templative way f seeig

he this f eai. am speaki w f atuahis, ad sei wth te eyes; ma alsea, sme, tasti, evey type f sspercept, bu maily seeig.

ma diks at ast after bei etemelyhisty, ad, feel efreshmet pemat hidy, tks ad says: Wha a lus t res wat! Su a ma, whete e kws it nt, as aady take a ep tward tat s f

he belved bet" templat Hwedd s wae, a rse, a tee, a aple, a humes exlamati can aely be skethut as ivi tue t a set ad aa

whi exteds beyd the bet paise adche p th ii f te iverse Whmg a t suddey ked t is cild'ce, te midt f t til d truble f every-y life, ad at tha mm ee" tat eveytig

hch is gd, is ved ad lvabl, ved by Gd etates all mea, a bttm, ad thame ti: tat the wld is pumb ad sud;a evey mes t is appied ; tat

ie f all appeaaes, udel al ts seae, avati, o a d e it; h Gd hds had te being

4



ainss and Contmatio

nc elistc escrpton bt n oe chev wreess n obn possession of h

osnfol riches of the works of Go.hs he speks of he brihte gos-s hn glss o silk o wte" which eeli h h in oe on hnkechief cng ctwhip" us up hep of ry honey-scke3 ; of h ishe o ebosse forehe o h sy ove he snown4; of he rie of hk pl olish skin whou body5; of hc y leve crowfether strokes of bohs,

h e ve ediction n the, s hh"�; of sleev of iqui brleyeld"�7 Only oi on the rill rou he ctches hscpe of te horse" which Soocles hd fe

n xresse in the choruses rui o he ik-ss of horse o reke, wve of the se c-ng ove. 8 similr e he seks of the Rhoce, of he ih of the heron, of og vs of the pecocks i ; n i d in o chni shpes of clous rui

h precision of hese entres roves, onghe ts, how itte cotetio eed b-ss o bl the relity of he visie worl b, sy

syoiztion." Rher, coneplocs s gze srih h het of oj ecs song, eceves n h ephs hheto he

86



appss ad Cotpato

te elatishp. Ad that pecept ethe peculiar essence f ctemplatin.

But what actual happes whe the soul, tere, takes precedece ver the ee? N oe aet suceeded prvidig a adequate descptvaccout of that press. The ame f the nrthenlights, azig i the sk indepedetl f eath'chroolg, seemig t e dated to the da fudgmet, s he eraptured oserver with de-ightful fear.�9 What as t that was give to it see? do ot thk have eve see athing

e eautiful tha the lueell have een look-g at. k the eaut f the Ld t.0

What are the wrds f the message hich has ce from the eat f urshng ceation? W

e nt told. For this, to, is part of the ntemplati: that t caot be cmmucted take pace n the iermst recesses. Thee bsever. And it s impossle to set t dbecause no erg of the sul s eft uegage

Ths passoate precisin f sesua descpto demostratio of the test t c egae of earthl cotemplat respects the visbeaspe o es s word, a ries to preseve

the. t would also seem that veeration f co-crete ealt is kidled the cotempative -pulse which seeks the dvie meaig undelig

87



appnss and onpation

ne go ungrws terefore, tat tere wrno rason for m to oer su susteae otr

ords t purpose of ats of art s not wtntemselves, but te allevaton of surg Butwat about te on for te fate of oes fellowsout of w su ats spran? Wat about teinner armato of te exstene of otrs w st essne of love? Are tese not magful ntemselves? es and no o, beause lov mustneessar a at sometg otr t tsf Butwhat do want love someo els? wat m

to be ap. n art, omas sas, w loveothers as ompaons te sarg of beattude."3 wat s beattue? ontemlaton!

Te results we ave so far aevd an bsummed up as follows All ratal tvt, fromprate of te etal vrtus to ga te mansof velood, servs sometg otr tan tself.An ts oter tng s not pratal atvt t s

vng wat s sougt aftr, wle we rest otentn te rsults of our atve eorts Prsl tat iste ma of te od adag tat t via aiva sfu t va nempava o sur, te

a lf ots a ft f s t s, ssomas, prll n t f rud, nte rft at of te odut of lf But ultt

93



Hainess and Contematon

epose cot e foud i this kind of felicity. Vttiv st disositio d ontativa the lti-

mte m o the ctve lfe s to mke possilethe hppess of cotmplton.In the commtry homs wrote on istotle'

Noahan Ehi there is setce which ex-pesses ths ide so chlle fshio tht hesitte to cite it her. Thoms is speki of pol-ics, whch is the summtio of ll ms ctve cresout secur hs exstece. he setce soundslmost utop. But it is sed upon wholly lu-

sonfree estimte of wht is commoly clleoliticl lfe"; it cots the isiht tht politicust ievtly ecome empty ttio if it doesnot im t somth which is ot poltcl. he

whole of polticl fe seems to e ordered with view to tti the hppiness of cotempltion.or pece, which is estlished d preserved vitue of politcl ctvity, plces m positionto devote hmself to contempltio of the truth. 7

Sch is the mcnt simlicity d keeess ofthis dctum tht we scrcel dre le on t. Yet it inothi ut exteo of the i tht cotem-ltio s the ol of mns whole lfe."8

We do ot me y this to sco or decy pc-icl fe. O the cotry, we my well sy hee is the clue to the slvtion nd redemton of



Hinss nd Cotlton

ndisputabe truth, nt smehi is merel n

sputed out f menal sluine r deessbut a truth whih s imune even t inerir diputethat is the simpiias f psesin

urtermre, ne f te reans there a be noperfet beatiude this phial exiee is, sashe mm heoogia, tat man s nt apable fn at ntinuin wiu errupion But happess is n happiness f i des nt endure frevewithut ss ppie deman eei iezshe

l f brat mmens whh miht serve scontributns to a phemen f happiness.s he sad t s lwas one ting whih makeor appness : . . e apai t feel unhistr

call6 One wo s happ seps awa frm the parcelng up of tme nd nto a repseful w, a ts n whih everhin is smultanes Bt thiser qualit ne aai links te happ man withhe ntmplaive ma s nt l tat the simplensigtful gaze of te tees is related o thdiscursve mvemets f te tio the eteal to te tempra7 Raer ntemplain man scapble f remain ler witut fatiue r dis

ao ay o viy8; i is y Iappness as n coemplatin man takes step o e.



ains and Contmatio

Seeing in itself akes fo appnsn

oo sa the anients s connetion betee con-eplation and appiness We prefe seeing to elsethese rs are to be fond in te rst ap-te of Aristote's Mtpyss f e di not lreakno that o in seeing must be conted aong tost eleental irrepressile oveted s of an-nd e ud dedue it frm the evera henoenon of nuisene of the ees, the y-pertroph of visua urisit the moridit of t

conteprar raving to see We an dede itfo the extent of this degeneratin hih itees is impeig seia u mst eemetal and preious poers This, inidetal a

sggest that the greatest menae to or apai fotempatin i te inessat fariatin of ta-d empt stimui whi k the reeptivit of teol .

ut we ised t tak aout te m featues wi te ha ad te temlativea Ater tem is the wg te happma a e t that he hshime a, ee e hm wt

evetig a evee eveythig is in hm;ntig a hae t hm e same ma a esaid r the tematve he ees himsef

02



XII

nyone ho considers the evi n this ord itn icorrute ee d scere cocern myooi c over te chters of ts oo, pos-siy sy ow cn we prise ctemtion o ths ey crto e te es, te reset ed o es, he ee fu of sder,

fhtfu justce, uer, fu deths, opressio, d evey form of hum ms? s it osse to keep i md the ctu histo of mind t the sme time se of te ess of -

tuiton, of stition etitue? s ts tngut iht from the re wor, ttemt t redehorrors innocuous, form of sefdeceto d ureistic dyicism? Ouht not erous ersono does not cre to deceve himsf out wht is

oi on n the word dy fter dyouht nosuch person hve te coe to eouce theescpe of hpiess?

s sue, ose seusss s mmetey

evdent, cn men sever ts We c conceveof mening hich excudes from the stt the pos-sity of n nser f ed ths reucton o



Hie d otelto

sething te dvine"then it ust nt be

frgtten fr mment tht ths s ur ft ere nt ressble fr its b s t s n mrt frs tht the sslt f hness exsts d,e ight s tt t exsts i ste f s M nt,cidentll, sense f shame t be t rtf s esble gft be n unsus fctbed te refsl f cnsent utled bve? Onte the nd, there exsts ls the dtertnt ccept nthng s gft Hwever, th tive

frce ndrlng the lvs f qute fw sts hsbeen tht se sense f sme, te shmd nsghtht e ght t ert" te gft f pness.

rther Te techers f Wste Christinithve ne nd ll grd tt t mrfct tepltin f this erth s n ioaio viae aeerae fretste f Etrnl Battud Ts stats te crucl fct but ertly ctmltn, but b n

es tlls te whle str t wuld b rudesurstdg t cnser the via oempltiva shr lesure Te pness f tmlatn nt cmfrtble hpss T rat as

st, Trs v, hs ssrt tt mrecre s requrd t led lfe f ctmltnhn t elect rtyrd3 d the refers t the

07



Hppinss and opaton

nature of artl ctemlai tat it limses

lit wose fearful britess bo blsses anddales.

Cntemlati ds o rest util it as foune obec wic dals it."



appnss and Contmpato

o = Qstons qodbasomp. eo = Compndm hoogaI Jo Contary on h osp of S. JoI Met = Commnary o Arsot's taphyscsI Et = ontary o Arsot's Ncocha

EtcsI De casis otary on th Lbr d cass

I Hebdom = Comntary on Boths' Essay o Ax-oms ( hbdomadbs)

I

I Maifsto of the Club 95

2 Uta homns fctas [st n contmpaton vats G 3 3· hoas in th S contra nts alays saks of

battdo h he man dvn hapinss; wh othe othr had he spaks i the third boo of huma

apiessmeaning alays ma's ta blsseuss almost xclusivly te word fcas: n a fc-

at qa provn x vson dna G 3 63 . I his Contary on th Ncoac Ethcsoo he uss xclusivly fctas. But curiously ough the scond part of the S oogca I, I,25 writt at almost th same tie e reglarlyus th r battdo i the sae ss.

4 Sct bo cratm st am stdo part-cpato bo crt, ta adpto bon crat s qa-dam sltaa batto Mal 5 ad 5·

5 L tl, c'st 'on n pt jamas s grs f-samt oa, 889939 aris 948) , p 89

6 Prgaoo, Cato 2

2



Hpe d Cem

5 e o. I 5 E M XI 2 (o I 9 7 Cy Gd I9 I

8 CG 3 23; I II 2; I Eth. w 9 I 2 W oetio hee the eevolume wo b SpaDomnca, J. M arz hoi eud(Madid, I942I947) . I am muc idebted to hi sall oough and indepedent commeta o S

homa's docrne of beatitude. I I 2 I . hs concep develops a idea od i

otle' P, I fI peu dum rum e I II

I ad 3 ·

I Real happiess i ong bu the happies of eg, o: esg is i iself happiness." D. Stebegure de e (Fakf, I950) p I8

I2 I, I , 2

I 3 C G 3 29.

I I Eh. I I 8 ; o. 2 I 9 Higl wot ong is te -dedum: . Js i the alm of cogitio pima prnciples ae ot ko, but moe hown amly iud."

I hoas quos th tadonal dnion: g

laa otta c le , , 2 3 I Cofssoes, I 3 3 8 Ttt, 6 0.

I Bo hos epee sczt csa ogo e, t o e oa, a st a , ddbeatto os sczt casa s. 2 3 ·

I 8 , , 2 4I 9 Ccro e oto, I I.2 0 I, , I 5 I ad I



Hppe d Cem

I, II, , N pe quee luem m s um

uerse , , 2 T irkgaar i ke u More o

ti ia i of r Lesure e B e(atho 1952) 49 so e de Hug. 6o

um uee qud er que sed lum e Ude lu eu -uem mplee pe I, , 2

5 Cum erg m n px qud exeme u ee deu qud per quum reum m e e I, II, , , b3 ·

I II, d 3

v

1 oe Piee, W e akadec? (Much,•9z ) · 76

I, , 4, I ; 4 5 5 · I Et 3 ; I 6 I C.G 3 , 65 I II, 6 I, II, 2 , 7 Vde em I Eth.

; o 3 Ti ist oo tat o totle (Nc

Es, o, 2 ; 4 8 I Et 0, 4; o 003

9 I, I, 2 6 obi I, II 6 d

u



Hppiness nd Cnepl

deei es ppeiils rper liud, d es -er nu, qud es deleins ium I II 2 ad

Ex d es ppeu deleines, su e -un nu e e deeine ppen ini, e nn e ners . Unde nn sequiu quddelei si xiu e per se n sed qud un-que que delei neqr liqud nu,

lq dele nseqr d qud es er s xi n 2 a 3

VI

This aporsm hich might amost riv from oeof th sags o th rin is iny a conmporcoinag o no kno th auhor.

2 Beiud nisi in un ede ie, in e ps-sie in i . . Beid . . nisi i ree-

ne nes de epe, and 3 I 3 I

4 Biss is a fingthis is th thsis of a sma post-umous ssay y hoor ackr epysik desFes nh I h agun is aknd

from h sa y a unamnal misunrstaning of th ugusinan nlgi iiis eriinel-lesln

n so ar man's au is somthin catdhic h isnc in himsl i ms ncssarly be

said tht mans atu is an aciviy peri]."I 3 2 n Go imsl ou no happy id no know an ov." Vr. 2 1 .

I I



Hppie d Cep

toom de Medi o Tomas I, II, 2 (cte Ramrz p. 7)

7 eatde s mas speme pefecto." I, II, 2 .

Every being i pfctd to t degree that t tazed [ ] " I, II, 3 2 .

9 I , II, 3 2 1 Operi e u er. I , II, 2

1 Hee we efe to the distico common amog tScoascs: pr eudu. Frst e-ty" s acta existence, where second reaty" es that ts actuay existing being eaizes its po-tentiatis by bing active. per e cu ecudueri (1, II, 70 I ) and: u eudu e e

e q u r . I 45) I, I, 3 2 ad 3 ·1 Cf. Rarz I, p 781 I, II, 2 d 3 ·1 I, 27 I

I, 27 I 1 onad Weiss in ette to t ppebe

(Agst I4, I 9 39) ·

VII

Eei eitudi cu eec is II 3 4·

2 Ds Sco thoght e detected n ths sntnce qotation from t wors of Anslm of CantrbyComar on ti ont . Rossot, Leecede o aris I 9 3) p. 48

Progi Lt, I 75• 05

8



e em

II 3 · 4

5 Mfese . . . II, 3, 4 Me CG 3 , 26.

6 Augustne, De Trintae, 1 3 , 5·

7 I, II, 3 , 4 oi 5

8 I, II, 4 ad 5

9 . od idem e i volnttis. I, II, 3 , 4 ad 5

1 0 Bartolom d ina citd amrez III, 76 ) 1 1 For examl, E. Gilso mainains that uguste i

doctrine of eatitude defnds the rmacy of twill" ntroction !td d S stin aris, 9 29 On the other hand F Cayr (L Co

epltion stinn, ars, 929 p 2 5 f) seakof ugutnes intllctualim, hich did ot ermtim to think of the dictum God is ove" apart frothat other dictum God is light"

2 Nihi id st hbre m os. Eigyee Qe

ions, 3 5, .1 3 Iid, 3 3 1 4 I Pslo, 90 2.

one, 302 ige, Ptrog i 39, 2 3 24) ;

lso De Trinitt, 9 homa, too, cite ts setec

frequetly, for examle: Ver 4 5 ad 5 Quo 8 9ob 3

1 6 Rousselot, Leelise, p X

1 7 Lintlctio . . . s, or S Tms ss-nt pttic t t non riction do."

Rouseot, Lntllctse, p xn1 8 De is, 8 similarly, 4 d 49 3 , 5, 1 a 9 I , 1 4,



appe and Conempatio

XIII

I E I , I4; I69

I II 8 4· D een e ee Teei von e von et hen (Much 1 3 3 ) p. 3 0.

4 See Sect X ed Cncludng lne f the pem he ot by Elsa-

beth Lggsse publshed De Too (Hmbu,I 97 P· 90.

happiness and contemplation - josef pieper

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