Aquinas and the Ethics of Happiness

Argues that common happiness, with a novel understanding of individual happiness built into it, stands at the core of Aquinas's ethics, including at the core of law, virtue, and grace. This book will be of special interest to anyone with antecedent interest in Aquinas or the history of ethics.

List of contents

Introduction; Part I. Aquinas on Individual Happiness: 1. Three kinds of perfectionism; 2. The heart of happiness: enjoying good activities; 3. Perfect happiness; 4. Natural imperfect happiness; 5. Graced imperfect happiness; Part II. Aquinas, Happiness, and the Unity of Ethics: 6. From individual happiness to common happiness; 7. Happiness and law; 8. Happiness and virtue; Conclusion; Bibliography of works by Thomas aquinas with abbreviations; General bibliography; Index.

About the author

Joseph Stenberg is Assistant Professor of Philosophy at Colgate University. He has published a number of journal articles on Aquinas's ethics and on contemporary accounts of well-being.

Summary

Argues that common happiness, with a novel understanding of individual happiness built into it, stands at the core of Aquinas's ethics, including at the core of law, virtue, and grace. This book will be of special interest to anyone with antecedent interest in Aquinas or the history of ethics.

Foreword

Argues that common happiness, with a novel understanding of individual happiness built into it, stands at the core of Aquinas's ethics.

Product details

• Authors: Joseph Stenberg, Joseph (Colgate University Stenberg
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press ELT
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Release: 31.07.2025
• EAN: 9781108478434
• ISBN: 978-1-108-47843-4
• No. of pages: 360
• Subjects: Non-fiction book > Philosophy, religion > Philosophy: antiquity to present day; PHILOSOPHY / History & Surveys / Medieval, Theology, Religious ethics, Western philosophy: Medieval & Renaissance, c 500 to c 1600, Philosophy and Religion, Medieval Western philosophy, Popular philosophy: Meaning of life / finding sense in life