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The Thomistic Institute

Four Levels Of Happiness | Prof. Christopher Kaczor

Jun 14, 2024
Prof. Chris Kaczor discusses the four levels of happiness - hedonist, egoist, altruist, and altruist of faith. He explores the pursuit of success, the impact of money on happiness, and the progression towards altruistic joy. Kaczor highlights the importance of genuine love and friendships in attaining true happiness, while emphasizing that ultimate perfection can only be found in God.
43:35

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Different levels of happiness involve bodily pleasure, power, fame, and altruism.
  • Balancing pursuit of higher happiness levels with potential conflicts from lower levels is crucial.

Deep dives

Understanding the Four Levels of Happiness

The podcast delves into the concept of the four levels of happiness, starting with the hedonist associating happiness with bodily pleasure. The egoist perceives happiness through power, money, and fame, while the altruist finds happiness in helping and loving others. The highest level, altruist of faith, considers happiness in loving both others and God. The interconnection between these levels is highlighted, showing how they can be aligned or come into conflict based on individual choices and values.

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