Monday, September 21, 2009

1a 2ae q2 a8: Whether any created good constitutes man's happiness? No.

Impossibile est beatitudinem hominis esse in aliquo bono creato quia bonum creatum non est minus quam bonum cuius homo est capax (ut rei intrinsecae et inhaerentis), est tamen minus quam bonum cuius est capax, ut obiecti, quod est infinitum.

It is impossible for any created good to constitute man's happiness because created good is not less than that good of which man is capable (as of something intrinsic and inherent to him), but it is less than the good of which he is capable, as of an object, and which is infinite.

Obiectum autem voluntatis, quae est appetitus humanus, est universale bonum; sicut obiectum intellectus est universale verum. Ex quo patet quod nihil potest quietare voluntatem hominis, nisi bonum universale.

Now the object of the will, i.e. of man's appetite, is the universal good; just as the object of the intellect is the universal true. Hence it is evident that naught can lull man's will, save the universal good.

Quod non invenitur in aliquo creato, sed solum in Deo, quia omnis creatura habet bonitatem participatam.

This is to be found, not in any creature, but in God alone, because every creature has goodness by participation.

Universitas autem creaturarum, ad quam comparatur homo ut pars ad totum, non est ultimus finis, sed ordinatur in Deum sicut in ultimum finem.

Now the universe of creatures, to which man is compared as part to whole, is not the last end, but is ordained to God, as to its last end.

Unde solus Deus voluntatem hominis implere potest; secundum quod dicitur in Psalmo CII, "qui replet in bonis desiderium tuum". In solo igitur Deo beatitudo hominis consistit.

Wherefore God alone can satisfy the will of man, according to the words of Psalm 102:5: "Who satisfieth thy desire with good things." Therefore God alone constitutes man's happiness.

Augustinus dicit, XIX de Civ. Dei, "ut vita carnis anima est, ita beata vita hominis Deus est".

Augustine says (De Civ. Dei xix, 26): "As the soul is the life of the body, so God is man's life of happiness".