Write an essay on the following topic, or develop a topic of your own choosing that relates to the readings from Aristotle and Aquinas. Due Friday, April 20.
Aristotle and Aquinas discuss the highest end human life, and both agree that it is described as happiness or blessedness (beatitude). Along the way, they uncover many details about what happiness is and is not, what might or might not be a part of it, and how happiness is and is not to be obtained. Clearly Aquinas is ultimately interested in an almost purely religious happiness that involves the contemplation of God, of the divine essence, but even he sheds light on earthly happiness.
Choose a novel, short story, play, film (of some quality), in which a character or characters go through experiences that occasion serious reflection (on their part and/or ours) about what will make for happiness in their lives. Use Aristotle and/or Aquinas to analyze that character's desire for happiness, explaining in your essay what Aquinas and/or Aristotle have to say about what happiness is and how it can be achieved as you discuss the character's own attempt (or failure) to find happiness. I will list some suggestions below.
You may also use a real-life example, but it would be best if it is one you can find some information on, a biography of some kind, which will prevent you from relying on vague generalizations.
The question of friendship also came up in relation to happiness, and your essay can focus on this aspect, using Aristotle, if you choose.
I will post some suggestions on our web pages about stories. A good number of Tolstoy stories would work; I'll list a link to those on the web. But there are lots of other possibilities.
| Leo Tolstoy, Master and Man (a longish, terrific story--approx. 44 pages) (Adobe pdf file). |
| Any one of a number of shorter Tolstoy stories from 23 Tales (available in pdf format thanks to the Christian Classics Ethereal Library). I suggest the following: "God Sees the Truth but Waits," "What Men Live By," "How Much Land Does a Man Need?" "Three Questions," and others. Skim around a bit and find one--you can print out only the pages you want. |
| Chekhov's "The Bet." |