In this paper I first point out that happiness might of its nature be unamenable to the calculating ‘plan of life’ approach, and argue that the incompatible model of a personal search, by no means implying ‘ontological subjectivity’ though, fits in more smoothly with the idea. Secondly, I discuss the arguments assembled by Aquinas for a view of this type. I argue thirdly that although we can show there is some one thing in which all happiness consists, whatever it may be it must be incompatible with temporal life, whether or not any other is possible. Hence a discussion which excludes ‘transcendence’ will not get to grips with the concept of happiness.

^{page 349 note 1}Uyl,Douglas den andMachan,Tibor R., ‘Recent work on the concept of happiness’,American Philosophical Quarterly (041983).Google Scholar

^{page 349 note 2}Benditt,Theodore, ‘Happiness’,Philosophical StudiesXXV (1974),1–20.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

^{page 349 note 3}e.g.Kekes,, ‘Happiness’,MindXCI (1982).CrossRefGoogle Scholar

^{page 349 note 4}Anscombe,G. E. M., ‘Modern moral philosophy’,Philosophy (1958).CrossRefGoogle Scholar

^{page 352 note 1}Hare,R. M.,Freedom and Reason (Oxford,1963), p.147.Google Scholar

^{page 352 note 2} Cf.Geach,P. T.,The Virtues (Cambridge,1977), pp.55–56.Google Scholar

^{page 354 note 1} St Thomas Aquinas,Comm. in Sent. P. Lombardi, bk. 4, d. 33, q.1, a. 1 c.

^{page 354 note 2} Cf.Geach,P. T., ‘History of a fallacy’, inLogic Matters (Oxford,1972).Google Scholar

^{page 354 note 3} Aristotle,Nicomachaean Ethics, 1094a 18 (Ross translation).

^{page 354 note 4}Anscombe,G. E. M.,Introduction to Wittgenstein's Tractatus,Home University Library (1971), p.16.Google Scholar

^{page 355 note 1}Kenny,A.,The Anatomy of the Soul (Oxford,1973), p.52.Google Scholar

^{page 355 note 2}Ibid. p. 53.

^{page 355 note 3} But against this tendency cf. especiallyRoss's,James F. review of Kenny's The God of the Philosophers inThe Journal of Philosophy (1982), p.410;Google Scholar alsoGeach's, review of hisThe Five Ways inThe Philosophical Quarterly, (1970), p.311.CrossRefGoogle Scholar See alsoTheron,, ‘Esse’,The Nero Scholasticism (spring,1979).CrossRefGoogle Scholar

^{page 356 note 1}Physics, viii, 5.

^{page 357 note 1} Cf.Geach,P. T.,The Virtues, pp.139–40.Google Scholar

^{page 357 note 2}Augustine,St,The City of God,XIX.1 (Pelican translation p.843).Google Scholar

^{page 358 note 1} B. Russell,The Conquest of Happiness.

^{page 361 note 1}Grisez,G. G., ‘The first principle of practical reason’, inAquinas, ed.Kenny,,London1969.Google Scholar

^{page 363 note 1} InThree Philosophers.