Acknowledgments

Foreword

Introduction

An Invisible Agent of Cultural Decline

Materialism and the Loss of Intangibles

A Potential Source of Cultural Healing

PART ONE: DEFINING ``PERSON'' AND ``HAPPINESS''

Introduction to Part One

Defining the Human Person

Introduction

Four Kinds of Definition

Definition of ``Person''

Some Ambiguities

Summary and Principles

Defining ``Happiness''

Introduction

The ``Heart''

The Effect of the ``Heart'' on the Culture

Four Levels of Happiness, Desire, and Purpose in Life

Moving Through the Levels of Happiness

Introduction

The First Level of Happiness and Its Crisis

The Second Level of Happiness and Its Crisis

The Third Level of Happiness: A Way Out of the Comparison Game

Five Fundamental Attitudes

The Essence of the Third Level: Love

The Third Crisis and the Fourth Level of Happiness

The Power of Human Self-Transcendence

The Third Crisis (the Category Error) and Its Resolution

Faith

Some Supplemental Prayers to Enhance the Life of Faith

Ramifications of the Four Levels on the Notion of ``Person''

PART TWO: THE TEN CATEGORIES OF CULTURAL DISCOURSE

Introduction to Part Two

Happiness, Success, Quality of Life, and Love

Introduction

Success

The Relationship Between Self-Worth and Quality of Life

Love

Suffering Well

Introduction

Transforming Suffering from a Negative to a Positive Experience (Moving from a Level 2 to a Level 3 Interpretation of Suffering)

Moving from a Level 3 to a Level 4 Interpretation of Suffering

Ethics and Freedom

Introduction

Ethics

Ethics on the First and Second Levels of Happiness

Ethics on the Third Level of Happiness

Virtues and Vices

Norms Pertaining to Right and Wrong Conduct

Ethics on the Fourth Level of Happiness

Freedom

``Freedom from'' Versus ``Freedom For''

Defining ``Want'' and ``Choice''

Freedom on the Third Level of Happiness

Freedom on the Fourth Level of Happiness

Freedom and Abortion

Freedom and Euthanasia

Person, Rights, and the Common Good

Introduction: The Relationship Between Person, Rights, and the Common Good

Inalienable Rights

The General Notion of a Right

Three Inalienable Rights

The Objective Prioritization of Inalienable Rights and the Resolution of Rights Conflicts

The Universality of the State's Protection of Inalienable Rights

The So-Called Principle of Clarity and an Example of Its Misuse

Abortion, Euthanasia, and Inalienable Rights

The Legitimate State and the Objectively Necessary Proscriptions of Its Powers

The Principles of Nonmaleficence and Beneficence

The Pursuit of the Common Good

Summary of the Ten Categories of Cultural Discourse

Introduction

PART THREE: THE LIFE ISSUES: ABORTION AND EUTHANASIA

Introduction to Part Three

Abortion

Introduction

The Redefinition of ``Person'' in the Attempt to Justify Abortion

Neglect of Inalienable Rights Arising Out of the Redefinition of ``Person''

Neglect of the Objective Ordering of Rights Arising Out of A and B

Neglect of the Principle of Nonmaleficence Arising Out of A Through C

Superficiality of ``Freedom'' Arising Out of A Through D

Superficiality of ``Virtue/Ethics'' Arising Out of A Through E

Superficiality of ``Love'' Arising Out of A Through F

Superficiality of ``Self-Worth'' Arising Out of A Through G

Superficiality of ``Happiness/Success'' Arising Out of A Through H

The Inability to Suffer Well Resulting in a Culture of Self-Pity and Despair Arising Out of A Through I

Conclusion

Euthanasia

Introduction

Negative Effects of Euthanasia on Individuals

First Argument of Euthanasia Advocates: Without Active Euthanasia, Uncontrollable Pain Is Likely to Accompany the Dying Process of the Terminally Ill

Second Argument of Euthanasia Advocates: Even if Pain Can Be Adequately Controlled, the Debility of Terminal Illness Will Likely Preclude an Acceptable Quality of Life

Third Argument of Euthanasia Advocates: Active Euthanasia Is a Choice, an Option, a Fundamental Right; Therefore, People Who Do Not Want This Option Should Not Be Permitted to Prevent Those Who Do Want It from Obtaining It

Fourth Argument of Euthanasia Advocates: Active Euthanasia Will Provide a Variety of Social Benefits, Such as Helping to Curb the Costs of Treating the Terminally Ill

Negative Effects of Euthanasia on the Culture

Conclusion

Epilogue

Appendix 1: Powers, Perfection of Powers, and Quantum Systems

Appendix 2: The Necessity of Finite Past Time and, Therefore, a Creator

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