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21 Feb 2023

Philosophy And Happiness

Quidam autem Epicurei et Stoici philosophi, disserebant cum eo...

Epicurei praeceptoris sui tarditatem secuti, felicitatem hominis in sola corporis voluptate, Stoici vero in sola animi virtute posuerunt. Qui inter se quidem dissidentes, Apostolum tamen unanimiter impugnant, eo quod hominem sicut ex anima et corpore subsistere, ita in utroque doceret beatum esse debere; sed hoc nec tempore praesenti, nec virtute humana, sed gratia Dei per Jesum Christum in resurrectionis gloria perficiendum.

Sanctus Beda,Super acta Apostolorum Expositio, Caput XVII

Source: Migne PL 92.979c
Certain Epicurean and Stoic philosophers entered into discussion with him... 1

The Epicureans, following the dullness of their teacher, placed the happiness of man in the pleasures of the body alone, but the Stoics only in the virtue of the soul, and because of this they disagreed among themselves. However the Apostle fought against both, for since man is constituted of soul and body, so he taught he should be blessed in both, and not in the present time, nor by human virtue, but by being perfected by the grace of God through Jesus Christ in the glory of the resurrection.

Saint Bede, from the Commentary on the Acts of The Apostles, Chapter 17

1 Acts 17.18

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