God and Happiness

This Element explores the implications of theism for philosophical questions, theories, and debates about human happiness.

Matthew Shea (Author)

9781009517164, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 2 January 2025

80 pages
23.5 x 15.9 x 1.1 cm, 0.27 kg

This Element explores the connection between God and happiness, with happiness understood as a life of well-being or flourishing that goes well for the one living it. It provides a historical and contemporary survey of philosophical questions, theories, and debates about happiness, and it asks how they should be answered and evaluated from a theistic perspective. The central topics it covers are the nature of happiness (what is it?), the content of happiness (what are the constituents of a happy life?), the structure of happiness (is there a hierarchy of goods?), and the possibility of happiness (can we be happy?). It argues that God's existence has significant, positive, and desirable implications for human happiness.

1. The concept of happiness
2. The nature of happiness
3. The content and structure of happiness
4. The possibility of happiness
5. The hope of happiness
References.

Subject Areas: Philosophy of religion [HRAB]