Theology Unit 1

Humanities

Academic disciplines studying aspects of society and culture

Philosophy

“The love of wisdom”

Happiness

Fulfillment of desire

Eudaimonia

Greek word meaning “Happiness” (no literal translation)

Desire

An anticipation of something we do not yet have which causes an emptiness inside and a yearning to be fulfilled

Hedonic treadmill

Level 1 crisis of pleasure seeking; constantly needing more and more over time to be happy

Ego

Means “I” in Latin

Sense of self importance

Contempt

To look at others as if their lives are less significant that our own

Empathy

Feeling what others are feeling

Transcendent

“Beyond physical”; something really real, but we can’t see/taste/touch/hear/smell

Transcendentals

Things we innately want because we are human and we recognize the imperfect world

Justice, truth, unity, beauty and love

Love

Desire good for someone else so much, it’s easier to do good for them, than for self

Justice

Giving someone what their owed

Beauty

Harmony of form

Reverend Brian Shanley, O.P.

President of PC

Stresses importance of humanities

Plato

Great western philosopher, student of Socrates, teacher of Aristotle

Aristotle

Father of Western Philosophy; Philosopher who said summun bonum (highest good) is happiness

Welles Crwother

• “Man w/ the red bandana”

  • Symbol/ motivation to do good

    • Many teams wore red bandana in honor of him

• Always a team player

• Wanted to be a firefighter, but worked in office

• Died to save many during 9/11

  • Even after escaping and saving many, went back to save more

Eugene Yoon

• Gave up career to help paralyzed man

  • Felt called to help

  • Crowdfunded $80,000 for exoskeleton to help man walk

• Later helped kid and poverty and many after

Andrea Jaegar

• Young tennis star

  • Hurt shoulder at 16

  • Left tennis to find happiness

    • Founded foundation helping kids with cancer

    • Became religious sister

Andy Wimmer

• Volunteer at one of Mother Theresa’s missionaries in Calcutta

  • Felt life should be mor than work

  • Met 15 year old with horrible condition that enlightened him

  • Show people’s God’s love

  • Felt it was paying God back for good life w/ interest

Pat Tillman

• Football star turned soldier

  • Star in classroom too

  • Arizona Cardinals

  • 9/11 inspired him to walk away from contract and become army ranger like brother

    • Died fighting for country

  • Level 1 → level 3

    • Chose patriotism over paycheck

Importance of studying the humanities

• Teaches how to live good life

• Increases empathy and learn about other human conditions

• Helps with analytical thinking, communication and judgement (real life skills)

Level 1 Happiness (description, characteristics, examples)

Physical pleasure and possessions

• Instant gratification

• Affects no one else

• No skill

• Non-lasting

• Ex. Eating junk food, playing video games

Crisis 1

Feelings of living beneath self, boredom, lonliness

Level 2

Ego Gratification:

• Competition

• More effort than L.1

• More lasting than L.1 but not long

• May effect others negatively

• Requires some skill

• Ex. Winning baseball game, getting good grade

Crisis 2

Comparison trap leads to feelings jealousy, fear of failure, ego sensitivity, blame, bitterness, contempt, resentment or inferiority or superiority

Life becomes aggressive competition

Level 3

Good beyond self:

• Helping others

• Effects others

• More lasting than previous levels

• More effort and sacrafice

• Want for transcendentals

• Ex. Helping at soup kitchen, donating to charity

Crisis 3

Frustration/ despair that world isn’t different because we can’t achieve perfect transcendentals

Level 4

Ultimate Good:

• God as priority

• Requires personal sacrifice and effort

• Perfect transcendentals

• Forever lasting

• Living outside self

• Non physical

• Affects all

• Ex. Prayer

Crisis 4

Feelings we’re not worthy of God’s unconditional love/ feelings of abandonment by God