CHAPTER 6 MODULE AND ACTIVITIES

CHAPTER 6 : THE GOOD LIFE

Every human being wants a good life. We strive because we want to achieve a
life that will make us happy and content. By studying and working hard, we try to attain
this goal not only for ourselves but also for our loved ones and the rest of humanity.
People’s definition of good life varies and differs in the particulars. In general, we
recognize universal truths that cut across differences.

6.1 NICHOMACHEAN ETHICS AND MODERN CONCEPTS

Aristotle, an ancient Greek philosopher whose works includes natural philosophy, logic
and political theories, tried to explain what the good is. His definition may be useful in
our pursuit of the truth. He stated in his NIchomachean Ehics :

All human activities aim at some good. Every art and human inquiry, and
similarly every action and pursuit, is thought to aim at some good; and for this reason,
the good has been rightly declared as that which all things aim (Nichomachean Ethics
2:2)

Everyone is moving towards the good. Thus, completing one’s studies, training for a
sport, or taking a rest is good. The good is expressed and manifested in many various
ways for different persons and circumstances. The good life is more than these
countless expressions of what is good. It is characterized by happiness that springs
from living and doing well.

. . . but the many and the cultivated call it happiness, and suppose that living well
and doing well are the same as being happy (Nichomachean Ethics 1:4)

The ancient Greeks called this concept of “living well and doing well” as eudaimonia.
The word came from the Greek word eu meaning “good” and daimon meaning “spirit”.
Taken together, it generally refers to the good life, which is marked by happiness and
excellence. It is a flourishing life filled with meaningful endeavours that empower the
people to be the best version of themselves. For a student, he studies hard and fulfils
the demands of the school to be the best version of a student. For an athlete, he trains
hard, joins and wins in sports competitions to be the best version of an athlete.

According to Aristotle, happiness is the ultimate end of human action. It is when people
pursue his own happiness for its own sake. Financial stability for one’s family, the power
achieved from winning the elections, or the harmony and peace as a reward for taking
care of the environment – all these and more are pursued for the sake of happiness.

Now such a thing as happiness above all else, is held to be; for this we choose
always for itself and never for the sake of something else, but honor, pleasure, reason

Ma. Cristina T. Cabildo Chem Dept., COS, TUP-Manila

and every virtue we choose indeed for themselves, but we choose them also for the
sake of happiness, judging that by means of them we shall be happy. Happiness, on
the other hand, no one chooses for anything other than itself. (Nichmachean Ethics 2:7)

Happiness defines a good life. This happiness, however, is not the kind that comes from
sensate pleasure. It is that which comes from living a life of virtue, a life of excellence,
manifested from the personal to the global scale.

It is the activities that express virtue that control happiness, and the contrary
activities that control its contrary (Nichomachean Ethics 1:10)

For example, making sure that one avoids sugary and processed foods to keep healthy
is an activity that expresses virtue. The resulting health adds to one’s well-being and
happiness. Another example is taking care of the environment through proper waste
management which results in a clean environment and adds to people’s well being and
happiness. These virtuous actions require discipline and practice. On the other hand,
activities contrary to virtue are those which do not result in happiness. The lack of
discipline in eating healthful food eventually make a person sick. The lack of concern for
the environment destroys our natural resources. If we disregard virtuous actions,
especially those that concern convenience and gratification, then this does not
contribute to one’s happiness. The good life is marked by happiness brought about by
virtuous human actions and decisions that affect the individual self and the greater
community. It is characterized by a life of flourishing oneself and of others. The good life
does not happen in a bubble where only one person is flourishing; others have to be in
it, too.

Virtue plays an important role among human beings and attainment of the good life. It is
the constant practice of the good no matter how hard the circumstances may be. It is
the excellence of character that empowers a person and be good. Such virtue is
cultivated with habit and discipline as it is not a one-time act, but a constant and
consistent series of actions. Each of us has the capacity to be good , but one has to
discipline oneself to make a habit of exercising the good.

Virtue, then being of two kinds, intellectual and moral, intellectual virtue in the
main owes its birth and growth to teaching (for which reason it requires experiences
and time), while moral virtue comes about as a result of habit. (Nichomachean Ethics
2:1)

The onward progress of science and technology is also the movement towards the good
lie. Science and technology are one of the highest expressions of human faculties. They
allow us to move forward and flourish in life if we want to. Science and technology may
also corrupt a person, but if one is grounded in virtue, it will help him/her to keep away
from danger.

Ma. Cristina T. Cabildo Chem Dept., COS, TUP-Manila

ACTIVITIES

I.Answer the following questions in complete sentences.

1. What is it that which all things aim?

2. What is the ancient Greek word which means living and doing well?
3. What is said to be the ultimate end of human action and pursued for its sake?
4.Who is the ancient Greek philosopher who wrote the Nichomachean Ethics.
5. The good life means that I make sure I improve without necessarily taking the others
into consideration. Is it true or false? Why?
6. One does not need to eat healthfully to live the good life. Is it true or false?State your
reasons.
7. Excellence of character is innate and does not have to be practiced. Is it true or
false? Why?
8. What is the constant practice of the good?
9. Give Aristotle’s two kinds of virtue. (for numbers 9 and 10)
10.

II.Essay :
1. State circumstances on which one can say that he/she has a good life (5 points)
2. How does science and technology contribute to human beings’ attainment of
having a good life? (5 points)

Remember, no copying of answers. Thank you, stay safe and GOD BLESS!

MA. CRISTINA T. CABILDO

Chemistry Department, COS, TUP-Manila

Ma. Cristina T. Cabildo Chem Dept., COS, TUP-Manila