What Is The Good Life? Sources of Meaning and Happiness: Surigao Del Sur State University

Republic of the Philippines
Surigao del Sur State University

Tandag City , Surigao del Sur
Telefax No. 086-214-4221
www.sdssu.edu.ph
What is the Good Life?

Sources of Meaning and Happiness
GE- Science Technology and Society

lsg1980
Telefax No. 086-214-4221
www.sdssu.edu.ph
OBJECTIVES
 To explain
a) The risk factors of the happiness pursuit
without meaning and virtue.
b) The advantages of a meaning perspective of
the good life (Wong, 2011).
c) The need for a balanced meaningful live
based on Wong’s implicit theories research
(1998a).

lsg1980
Telefax No. 086-214-4221
www.sdssu.edu.ph
A PUZZLING PROBLEM
 People want to be healthy but many
consume junk food.
 People want to be happy but many do
things that make themselves miserable.
 Most things that taste good are probably
bad for you.
 Most things that give you a thrill are
probably bad for you too.
lsg1980
Telefax No. 086-214-4221
www.sdssu.edu.ph
WHAT IS THE GOOD LIFE?

 People have different
ideas of what constitutes
the good life.
 Wrong pursuits may lead
to tragic consequences.
 Correct pursuits may
lead to flourishing.
lsg1980
Telefax No. 086-214-4221
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 Therefore, be careful
what you dream for.

lsg1980
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THE HAPPINESS PURSUIT
 Everybody wants more happiness and

success.
 It’s good to know how to optimize
happiness and success.
 There are many happiness coaches and
self-help books on the market.
lsg1980
Telefax No. 086-214-4221
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RISK FACTORS
There are risk factors when:
 The happiness pursuit becomes one’s
ultimate purpose in life.
 The happiness pursuit is not guided by a
philosophy of life informed by general
principles of meaning, spirituality and
virtue (e.g., the Golden Rule).

lsg1980
Telefax No. 086-214-4221
www.sdssu.edu.ph
THE GOLDEN RULE

 Confucius: What you not want done to
do yourself, do not do others.
unto
 Aristotle: We should to others as
behave we wish others to us.
behave to
 Buddhism: Hurt not others with that
which pains thyself.
lsg1980
Telefax No. 086-214-4221
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 Christianity: Do unto others as you would

have them do unto you.

lsg1980
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THE AMERICAN NIGHTMARE

lsg1980
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The pursuit of the good life has ended in

misery and self-destruction for many
people.

lsg1980
Telefax No. 086-214-4221
www.sdssu.edu.ph
WHAT IS THE COMMON

CAUSE?
 They make personal happiness and

success their ultimate end of life without a
moral compass and without the desire to
pursue inner goodness.

lsg1980
Telefax No. 086-214-4221
www.sdssu.edu.ph
DISILLUSION
King Solomon realized the vanity of success
long, long ago:
 The world will never be enough: “The eye
is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear
filled with hearing” (Eccl. 1:8).
 It takes more and more to reach the
same level of happiness—addiction,
money, etc.
lsg1980
Telefax No. 086-214-4221
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DISILLUSION
 Nothing in this world can fill the spiritual

vacuum within us.
 Dreams are often broken when reality
strikes.

lsg1980
Telefax No. 086-214-4221
www.sdssu.edu.ph
FATE AND CIRCUMSTANCE
 Bad things happen to good people

 Reversal of fortune
 For some people, most days are bad days
(e.g. poverty)
 Lack of opportunities to pursue PERMA
(Seligman, 2011)
lsg1980
Telefax No. 086-214-4221
www.sdssu.edu.ph
ADVANTAGES OF
THE MEANING PURSUIT
 Avoids the pitfalls of self-centered pursuit

of happiness and success.
 Sustains us between the highs of
inspiration and the lows of despair.
 Happiness and flourishing will sneak in
through the back door.
lsg1980
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 Ability to transform adversities into

opportunities for personal growth.

lsg1980
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THE GOOD LIFE IS A

VIRTUOUS LIFE
 A meaningful, authentic good life is based

on inner goodness.
 “The end of life is eudaimonia.”—Aristotle
 Eudaimonia means well-being, virtue and
human flourishing.

lsg1980
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 To live the good life is to become what we

ought to be as human beings—moral
agents who strive for moral excellence.

lsg1980
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ACCORDING TO ARISTOTLE
 His moral theory is
teleological.
 Aristotle’s virtue ethics.
 The golden mean to avoid
extremes.
 Practical wisdom: the proper
end to our actions and the
proper means to our end.
Four cardinal virtues:
prudence, justice, fortitude,
and temperance.
lsg1980
Telefax No. 086-214-4221
www.sdssu.edu.ph
ACCORDING TO CONFUCIUS
 Lived in a tumultuous period
of war and conflict.
 Equates the good life with
social harmony.
 The need to fit in an ordered
society
Five cardinal
.
benevolence, righteousness,
virtues:
propriety, wisdom,
faithfulness and
or loyalty.
 Inner cultivation of virtues
GE- Science Technology and Society leads to world peace.
lsg1980
Telefax No. 086-214-4221
www.sdssu.edu.ph
A SHIFT IN THE NARRATIVE OF

THE GOOD LIFE
 A shift from virtue and ethics to personal

happiness and success.
 An increase in freedom and
personal gross domestic (GDP).
product
 Money does not always buy happiness.
lsg1980
Telefax No. 086-214-4221
www.sdssu.edu.ph

lsg1980
Telefax No. 086-214-4221
www.sdssu.edu.ph
IS THERE THE GOOD LIFE

WITHOUT INNER GOODNESS?
 A morally neutral stand on the good life
will lead to risk factors.
 We feel good from doing good.
 We are moral beings living in a moral
universe.
 We cannot flourish without a moral
compass.
lsg1980
Telefax No. 086-214-4221
www.sdssu.edu.ph
THE HOLISTIC APPROACH

 The whole is more than the sum of its
parts.
 Good people + Good community + World
peace = Good life.

lsg1980
Telefax No. 086-214-4221
www.sdssu.edu.ph
THE GOOD LIFE IN TOUGH TIMES
 Finding meaning through a heroic attitude

(Frankl, 1985).
 Accepting what cannot be changed.
 “Every cloud has a silver lining.”
 Transforming adversities through
meaning
and faith.
lsg1980
Telefax No. 086-214-4221
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 Reducing stress, depression and anxiety.

 Integrating negatives with positives.

lsg1980
Telefax No. 086-214-4221
www.sdssu.edu.ph
THE GOOD LIFE IS A

SPIRITUAL LIFE
 The adaptive advantages of religion and
believing in God.
 A moral compass and answers to the big
questions.
 Belief in an Ultimate Rescuer.
 Hope beyond the grave.

lsg1980
Telefax No. 086-214-4221
www.sdssu.edu.ph
 Significance in mundane activities.

 A meaning-mindset is a faith-filled
perspective.

lsg1980
Telefax No. 086-214-4221
www.sdssu.edu.ph
THE GOOD LIFE IS A

BALANCED LIFE
A single-minded
 always beneficia . pursuit
is
l
not  Active engagement needs
tobe balanced by rest.
Exclusive love needs to
be
balanced by greater love. vs.
balanced by acceptance.
Achievement needs to be
lsg1980
Telefax No. 086-214-4221
www.sdssu.edu.ph
l
Se f-transcendence needs
be balanced by fair treatment.
to

lsg1980
Telefax No. 086-214-4221
www.sdssu.edu.ph
SOURCES OF MEANING FOR THE

GOOD LIFE
 Wong’s implicit theory research.

 Achievement, religion/spirituality, positive
affect, relationships, self-transcendence,
intimacy, self-acceptance, fair treatment.
 Basic needs for mental health and
flourishing.
lsg1980
Telefax No. 086-214-4221
www.sdssu.edu.ph
Profile of Personal Meaning

Mean Rating
7.6
7.4
7.2
7.0
6.8
6.6
6.4
6.2
6.0
Religion
lsg1980
Telefax No. 086-214-4221
www.sdssu.edu.ph
A BALANCED MODEL OF THE

GOOD LIFE
Religion/
Spirituality
Achievement Acceptance
Self-transcendence Fairness

lsg1980
Telefax No. 086-214-4221
www.sdssu.edu.ph
Situational and Cultural

Context

lsg1980

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Republic of the Philippines

Surigao del Sur State University

What is the Good Life?

GE- Science Technology and Society

GE- Science Technology and Society

WHAT IS THE GOOD LIFE?

GE- Science Technology and Society

THE HAPPINESS PURSUIT

 Everybody wants more happiness and

GE- Science Technology and Society

THE GOLDEN RULE

 Christianity: Do unto others as you would

GE- Science Technology and Society

THE AMERICAN NIGHTMARE

GE- Science Technology and Society

The pursuit of the good life has ended in

GE- Science Technology and Society

WHAT IS THE COMMON

 They make personal happiness and

GE- Science Technology and Society

 Nothing in this world can fill the spiritual

GE- Science Technology and Society

FATE AND CIRCUMSTANCE

 Bad things happen to good people

 Avoids the pitfalls of self-centered pursuit

 Ability to transform adversities into

GE- Science Technology and Society

THE GOOD LIFE IS A

 A meaningful, authentic good life is based

GE- Science Technology and Society

 To live the good life is to become what we

GE- Science Technology and Society

A SHIFT IN THE NARRATIVE OF

 A shift from virtue and ethics to personal

GE- Science Technology and Society

IS THERE THE GOOD LIFE

THE HOLISTIC APPROACH

GE- Science Technology and Society

THE GOOD LIFE IN TOUGH TIMES

 Finding meaning through a heroic attitude

 Reducing stress, depression and anxiety.

GE- Science Technology and Society

THE GOOD LIFE IS A

GE- Science Technology and Society

 Significance in mundane activities.

GE- Science Technology and Society

THE GOOD LIFE IS A

GE- Science Technology and Society

SOURCES OF MEANING FOR THE

 Wong’s implicit theory research.

Profile of Personal Meaning

A BALANCED MODEL OF THE

GE- Science Technology and Society

Situational and Cultural

GE- Science Technology and Society

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