THE GOOD LIFE
• The good life is a term that refers to a state
that is primarily characterized by a high
standard of living for the adherence to ethical
and moral aspects.
• The good life is a term that refers to a state
that is primarily characterized by a high
standard of living for the adherence to ethical
and moral laws
“Not every person that is living
the dream or the good life is
actually living the good life”
According to Westacott (2018), there are three
ways by which we can understand the meaning
of good life. These are moral life, life of pleasure
and fulfilled life.
A. MORAL LIFE “Good life “ – moral approval
. They are good person, courageous, honest,
trustworthy, kind, selfless, generous, helpful,
loyal, principled and so on.
Socrates in Gorgias – argued it is better to
suffer wrong than to do it , that a good man
who has his eyes gouged out and is tortured to
death is more fortunate than a corrupt person
who has uses wealth and power dishonorably.
Plato - the morally good person enjoys a sort of
inner harmony whereas the wicked person, no
matter how rich and powerful he maybe or how
may pleasures he enjoys, is disharmonious,
fundamentally at odds with himself and the world.
• SOCRATES “UNEXAMINED LIFE IS
NOT WORTH LIVING” People that do
not reflect on the nature of things are
not living a worthwhile life
ARISTOTLE = Best known work is
NICHOMACHEAN ETHICS
• Aristotle seeks to construct a framework by
developing an understanding about the highest
good for human beings.
• He points out that to most people, the
highest good consists either in the acquisition
of wealth, the pursuit of honor or the satisfying
of bodily pleasures.
ARISTOTLE'S NICHOMACHEAN ETHICS HUMAN
FLOURISHING AND EUDAIMONIA Aristotle
connected human flourishing with the notion of
living well and the concept of living well is
connected to the idea of eudaimonia, which to
the Greek means living the good life. It is more
than a sense of joy or satisfaction, which we
often confuse with the meaning of happiness.
• A flourishing human life is a life filled with
noteworthy human activity. • The ability to
flourish enables the individual to achieve
eudaimonia, the highest end of the human life.
• Eudaimonia (good, being and spirit) means
achieving the best conditions possible for a
human being, in every sense–not only
happiness, but also virtue, morality, and a
meaningful life.
THE LIFE OF PLEASURE
Greek philosopher Epicurus - pleasure is
enjoyable , its fun ; is what makes life
worth living .
Hedonism. People who are devoted to sex,
food, drink and sensual indulgence
. Dominant in western culture .
Living the good life - enjoying lots of
recreational pleasures, good food,
good wine, scuba diving, etc. subjective
experiences. A person is happy when
they feel good and have many “ feel good
experiences “
Epicure – someone who is appreciative of food
and drink.
3 ASPECTS OF GOOD LIFE
SELF MASTERY - The ability to take control of one's life without being
blown off course by feelings, urges and circumstances. “MIND OVER
MATTER
LEARNING OR CONTEMPLATION • Through the process of
contemplating and learning the intellectual virtues can lead to good
life.
SERVITUDE TO SOCIETY - taking action to help others expecting
nothing in return. This involves a wide range of activities, e.g. from
volunteering at a local charity or community service, to helping a
neighbor with their groceries.
C. THE FULFILLED LIFE BY ARISTOTLE 1. Virtue - morally
virtuous 2. Health - enjoy good health and reasonably long
life . 3. Prosperity – comfortably off (Aristotle - affluent
enough so that they don’t need to work for a living doing
something that they would not freely choose to do) 4.
Friendship - good friends ; innately social 5. Enjoy respect of
others 6. Need good luck, common sense 7. Exercise their
unique human abilities and capacitie
Aristotle’s Checklist Based on Fulfilled Life
SCHOOLS OF THOUGHT PHILOSOPHERS BELIEF
Materialism Leucippus & Comfort, pleasure and wealth are the only highest
goals
Hedonism Epicurus Life is limited , one must indulge itself with
pleasures - Eat drink and be merry for tomorrow
we die
Stoicism Virtue is happiness and judgement should be
based acts on behavior rather than words ;
practical application
Theism Ultimate happiness is communion with God , Find
the meaning of their lives by using God as the
creator of their existence Monotheism &
polytheism
Humanism International Humanist Human beings have the right and responsibility to
and Ethical Union give meaning and shape their own lives -stewards
of creation but as individuals who have control for
themselves as well as the world outside them
Meaningful Life
1. Well being of Family especially children and
grandchildren
2. Pursuing a particular kind of work with great dedication
(scientific research, artistic creation, scholarship)
3. Devote themselves to a cause – protecting environment 4.
Immersion or engagement in a community, church and
school Finished life Call no man happy until he’s long dead
because after death that is the only time that you will know
how he live. E.g. Jimmy Saville who was much admired but a
serial sexual predator. A good life is one that is enviable and
admirable . GOOD MORAL LEAD US TO THE GOOD AND
HAPPY LIFE
THE ULTIMATE GOAL OF A GOOD LIFE TRUE
HAPPINESS IS FOUND BY LEADING A VIRTUOUS
LIFE AND DOING WHAT IS WORTH DOING.
FEELING GOOD IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH FOR A
GOOD LIFE. Each person must realize his/her
potentialities which would lead him/her to the
greatest fulfillment .
ROLE OF TECHNOLOGY IN ACHIEVING GOOD LIFE
Technology support and enhance a good life for all
citizens without compromising the earths
ecosystem or the prospects of later organization.
Technology allowed us to tamper time and space .
Communication - (social media ) Fiddle with our
sexuality by injecting hormones
