The Pursuit of Wealth

The individual’s right to making decisions concerning the distribution of one’s wealth in the U. S. is that individual’s decision alone. Most tycoons of industry distribute some of their wealth to noble causes, while living lives of the luxury they have earned through their labor. Often, trust funds are set up to ensure the hereditary distribution of wealth. In contrast, Andrew Carnegie, mogul of the oil industry, set out to distribute his wealth to charity in his lifetime. He was one of the few wealthy industrialists to see the positive effects of his charity.

Perhaps Carnegie and other tycoons who followed his example had read what the Roman Catholic theologian, Thomas Aquinas, authored concerning the pursuit of wealth. Among his many various interests, Aquinas examined the factors which are typically associated with happiness including wealth, honors, power, health, and pleasure. Thomas Aquinas argues, “For wealth of this kind is sought for the sake of something else, as a support of human nature.” Pursuing wealth, therefore, is insatiable, for there will never an amount after it’s been acquired that can satisfy the soul. There is always a new technology, luxury, or pleasure for purchase. Wealth only offers the gratifying of wants and needs that continuously reoccur throughout a lifetime.

               Thomas Aquinas views the soul of a human as the only eternal element existing in a human. Therefore, the soul can understand eternality and finds happiness in the vision of the Divine Essence. It naturally seeks to know and understand its cause, or God. Only when a soul achieves this understanding of eternal law, or the inner workings of the universe can it attain its final happiness.

               From this one can imply that Carnegie understands the transient nature of life, and he nobly desires to rid himself of his wealth in his lifetime. He did not find happiness in wealth. Maybe this is something that the modern American can take into consideration when he chooses ambitious goals over virtue. The pursuit of wealth is not necessarily the pursuit of happiness.