[Sapirit]

you're making me laugh. now you're trying to redefine happiness for people who have different opinions? you're suggesting there is hard statistical evidence about chaste/non-chaste? happiness is the most subjective thing. Plus, delayed gratification (if they believe living moral life is the best gratification) is not most people's forte. Americans want fun and they want it now. All bruhaha about possible future (and may be present) happiness is only for people who go beyond rationality.

Because the intellect is the greatest human power

for real? Nazi Germany was the most intellectually and academically advanced country of its time... so much for intellectual powers.

[Campion]

All bruhaha about possible future (and may be present) happiness is only for people who go beyond rationality.

A rationality that doesn't consider future happiness isn't very rational.

[Aquinasfan]

you're making me laugh. now you're trying to redefine happiness for people who have different opinions?

Yes. Will a life of virtue make a person happier than a life of vice? Is Mother Theresa really happier than Scott Peterson, or merely subjectively happier?

Plus, delayed gratification (if they believe living moral life is the best gratification) is not most people's forte.

True. Does this invalidate the point, that a life of virtue will make one happier than a life of vice?

Americans want fun and they want it now.

Are they even subjectively happy?

Because the intellect is the greatest human power

for real?

In essence. You can't will anything unless you first know it. We know things through the intellect.

Nazi Germany was the most intellectually and academically advanced country of its time... so much for intellectual powers.

The abuse of a power doesn't negate its goodness per se.