A Review of Saint Augustine’s Virtue and the Human Soul Essay

In Augustines article Virtue and the Hu earth Soul, bliss is discussed in great detail. What makes a man happy? How do we obtain this bliss and where does happiness interest? Can this happiness be lost? Augustine answers these questions by the notion of integritys tribal old geezer safe(p). He explains that a mans chief neat is the reason behind all happiness. If unmatchable is not happy, it is because they extradite not rig their chief beneficial, and therefore behindnot be happy until they let on it (Augustine 264-267).Happiness is in the enjoyment of mans chief good. deuce conditions of the chief good 1st, Nothing is better than it 2nd, it butt jointnot be lost against the allow for (Augustine 264-267). As human beings, we all fatality to be happy and delay enjoyable lives. However, Augustine believes that only one type of person can full achieve happiness, the man who both loves and possesses their chief good (Augustine 264-267). He describes trine other cases w hen happiness is not obtained. First, one who seeks what he cannot obtain suffers hurt (Augustine 264-267). This means that someone who strives for something that they will never be able to stir is not happy. Secondly, one who has got what is not desirable is cheated (Augustine 264-267). This is saying that someone who has authorized happiness in a counsel that they do not like, or has received happiness that they do not want, can never be happy. Thirdly, one who does not seek for what is worth seeking for is diseased (Augustine 264-267). This final examination case is when someone seeks happiness through with(predicate) things that are wrong and not worth having. In all of these three mentioned cases, ones chief good has not been found.Augustine continues in the article by discussing how mans chief good is not inferior to man itself, but more(prenominal) as an equal to man. The chief good then must be something that is never lost against the will (Augustine 264-267). The chi ef good, once properly in the heart of a man, can never be taken away. It resides fully in the inner workings of man and is buried so blockheaded inside that nothing could ever take away the happiness. For no one can feel confident regarding a good which he knows can be taken from him, although he wishes to keep and cherish it. But if a man feels no confidence regarding the good which he enjoys, how can he be happy while in such fear of losing it? (Augustine 264-267).For example, when you go to a pet shop and see all the cute puppies. You want to hold them and pet them, and it makes you so happy for that brief period. However, you know that the happiness can be taken away from you, because you dont stimulate the puppies, you dont get to take them home. Ultimately, you walk away sad, and lack you could hold on to that happiness just a little longer. It is backbreaking to be confident in a happiness that you know can be taken away from you at any time, and its equally as hard to have no confidence in your happiness because you live in fear of never being happy.Augustine continues his word of honor of what makes a man. The question lies in the discussion between man being of the be only, of the reason only, or both. He talks about this to determine where mans chief good resides, and from where it is discovered. Mans chief good is not the chief good of the personify only, but the chief good of the person (Augustine 264-267). Augustine states that a persons chief good is found in the soul and that the soul gives life to the body. The soul provides bodily pleasure, pain, strength, beauty, swiftness, and so on Without the soul, there would be no body, and without the body, no soul. They work together in order to achieve the chief good for man.Augustine gives the example of a coachman who works for him. The coachman does the most satisfactory channel of caring for the horses, all because Augustine has provided the funds and bounty to the coachman. Can a ny one deny that the good condition of the horses is out-of-pocket to Augustine? (Augustine 264-267). His point is that without his money and horses, the coachman would never be able to do the job he was assigned, and because of Augustine in this example, the coachman can provide the happiness and care to the horses. This relates to the body being a direct worker of the soul. The body is the outward old salt of the souls control.Augustines article is summed up in the discussion of virtue. Virtue gives perfection to the soul the soul obtains virtue by interest God following God is the happy life (Augustine 264-267). Augustine debates whether or not virtue exists on its own, or if it can only exist within the soul. He says virtue must exist on its own because the soul must have something to follow after in order to progress to that virtue. Virtue must be gained it is not already contained within the soul. This virtue, concord to Augustine, belongs in the pursuit of God. As mentio ned before, Augustine believes that ones chief good cannot be taken away against ones will. Therefore, it must take a breather that God is the virtue one seeks. Through following God, ones chief good, happiness, and virtue can be both loved and possess (Augustine 264-267).After reading and re-reading this article, I feel I have lastly found the true meaning of what Saint Augustine was saying. Happiness cannot just be attained by the snap of a finger, by a elementary glimpse of hope. Happiness must be sought after in a way that completely fills the soul and in a way that one can feel they are completely confident in their happiness. I take with Augustines argument for the pursuit of God in finding happiness. I believe that God is the creator of happiness and virtue, and that through him anyone can find their chief good. My question to the class is this do you agree with Augustines argument of happiness only coming from within the soul and God, or do you believe happiness can be ob tained to its fullest potency in a different way?Work CitedAugustine, Saint. Virtue and the homo Soul. Vice and Virtue In Everyday Life. Comp. Christina Hoff Sommers and Fred Sommers. Belmont, CA Wadsworth Cengage Learning, 2010. Print.