FIRST SECTION
GENERAL OUTLINE OF MAN'S RETURN TO GOD
I. OF MAN'S RESEMBLANCE TO GOD IN THE FREE ADMINISTRATION OF ALL THAT CONCERNS HIM
Has man any special likeness to God in his actions?
Yes, man in his actions has a special likeness to God.
In what consists this special likeness of man to God?
It consists in this, that just as God disposes of all the universe which depends upon Him, at His will and in all liberty, so in the same way man disposes at his will and in all liberty of all things that depend upon him
II. OF THE LAST END OR HAPPINESS OF MAN VIEWED IN ALL HIS ACTIONS
Has man always an end in view when he acts?
Yes, man has always an end in view when he acts, that is when he acts as man and not as a machine, or by impulse, or by any reaction which is purely physical or instinctive
In the material world, is it only man that can act for an end?
Yes, only man in the material world can act for an end.
Does it then follow that all other beings in the material world act without an end?
No, it does not follow that all other beings in the material world act without an end; on the contrary, all beings act for an end that is very definite; but they are incapable of fixing an end for themselves; it is God who knows the end and who fixes it for them
All other beings then act in view of attaining some end which has been fixed for them by God?
Yes, all other beings act in view of attaining some end which has been fixed for them by God
Has not God also fixed for man the end for which he acts?
Yes.
What then is the difference between man when he acts and other creatures in the material world?
The difference is this, that man under the higher action of God and dependently upon this action, can fix for himself the end for which he acts; whereas other creatures of the material world put into execution blindly, naturally, or instinctively the end fixed to their action by God
What is the reason of this difference between man and other beings in the matter of actions?
The reason is because man is endowed with mind, whereas other creatures are not
Is there some supreme object or some last end which man has in view whenever he acts?
Yes, there is always some supreme object or some last end man has in view whenever he acts; since without some such supreme object or last end he would be unable to will anything at all
Does man in his actions ordain all to this supreme or last end which he has in view whenever he acts?
Yes, man ordains all to this supreme object or last end whenever he acts; if he does not do this consciously and explicitly, he does it at least implicitly and by a sort of natural instinct in the order of reason
What is the last end or what is the supreme object which man always has in view and to which he ordains all ever he acts?
This last end or supreme object which man always has in view when he acts and to which he ordains all is happiness
Man then necessarily desires to be happy?
Yes, of necessity man desires to be happy.
Is it absolutely impossible to find a man who desires to be unhappy?
Yes, it is quite impossible to find a man who desires to be unhappy
Can man deceive himself as to the object of his happiness?
Yes, man can thus deceive himself, because since he can seek his welfare among so many and divers good things, he can deceive himself as to the object of his true happiness
What happens if man deceives himself as to the object of his true happiness?
If man deceives himself as to the object of his true happiness, it follows that instead of finding happiness at the end of his life, he finds nought but the worst evil.
It is then supremely important for man not to deceive himself as to the object of his happiness?
There is nothing of greater import for man than that he deceive not himself as to the object of his happiness.
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