GE-STS: Science, Technology and Society

Module 3
Good Life
Name: Invento, Jane Rose A.
Course: BS Tourism and Management

Eliciting Ideas: Life Is Round With Corners

Happy, contented

And feel loved

Living in a good Having the ability to

environment touch other people’s
lives
My Personal
Definition of
Good Life
When you are
When life looks like
Accomplishing my
already successful
a blessing not a
dreams.
and have a balanced
burden
lifestyle
Having a piece of
mind and financially
stable

Evaluation
A.
1. Why do you think the meaning of life differ from person to person?
 The quality of life depends and it varies from one individual to another. A
wealthy individual may enjoy a lavish lifestyle, whilst the impoverished
cannot. Because everyone needs are varied, quality of life varies from person
to person. People’s quality of life differs dramatically because life satisfaction
is subjective and encompasses both material and non-material ideas of life.
Some people’s life satisfaction may be determined by their earnings. Others
may use the term “life satisfaction” to describe their optimism.
2. In your own words, what is the meaning of good life according to:
a. Plato
 According to Plato, a ‘good-life’ is one that ensures the well-being of a person
(Eudaimonia). The well-being can be ensured by a good state of the soul. A
good state of the soul is either a product of good soul and doing what is good
for the soul. Reflecting further on it, Plato suggested that ever object, man or
animal has natural function and one should find and pursue it. Pursuing it only
satisfies the soul. The soul has three parts namely spirit and courage, intellect
and physical desires and it is only when one goes for their satisfaction like by
consuming knowledge for intellect in right proportions that she lives a good
life. His ideas on ethics are broadly based upon virtues. He suggests that there
exists a ‘unity of virtues’ where justice, courage, prudence ad temperance are
either all achieved or non-achieved if any of them is not observed. He rejected
the idea of retaliation and doing injustice as it harms our soul.
b. Aristotle
 According to Aristotle, the good life is the happy life, as he believes happiness
is an end in itself. Aristotle develops a theory of the good life, also known as
Eudaimonia, for humans. Eudaimonia is perhaps best translated as flourishing
or living well or doing well. Therefore, when Aristotle addresses the good life
as the happy life, he does not mean that the good life is simply one of feeling
happy or amused. Rather, the good life for a person is the active life of
functioning well in those ways that are essential and unique to humans.
Aristotle invites that fact that if we have happiness, we do not need any other
things making it an intrinsic value. In contrast, things such as money or power
are extrinsic valuables as they are all means to an end. Usually, opinions vary
as to the nature and conditions of happiness. Aristotle argues that although
‘pleasure amusements’ satisfy his formal criteria for the good, since they are
the good life since, “it would be absurd if our end were amusement, and we
labored and suffered all our lives for the sake of amusing ourselves.”

c. Kant
  Kant, like many other philosophers, has his own ideas about what constitutes
the good life. Nothing is completely good, according to Kant, because it can
always be associated with something negative or misappropriated, such as
your abilities or character. He felt that in order to achieve the good, one must
possess “good will,” which he considered to be our most valuable asset. Good
will is the determination to carry out your responsibilities simply because they
are your responsibility. When performed for the sake of obligation, a human
act is morally good.
d. Nietzsche
 The good life, according to Nietzsche, is one lived without fear: dread of gods
or a higher power; fear of the mob and its ceaseless urge to conform; and even
fear of one’s fate. Man people confuse living a moral life with living a “good”
and happy life, and use the terms interchangeably. Nietzsche does not believe
that God is required to achieve a sense of morality, and many people associate
living a moral life with living a “good” and happy life. As per Nietzsche,
morality does not emerge from some all-knowing higher authority, but rather
from people’s views and understandings of what constitutes “good.”

3. Among the four mentioned philosophers, who among them have opposing
definition of good life? Why?
 Aristotle differed from his instructor, Plato, in that he felt there was no
existence beyond what the senses could see. As a result, only by observing the
outside world can one properly comprehend what reality is all about. Aristotle
also believed that the best thing for mankind is the full understanding of their
uniqueness. It followed that good reasoning was helpful for people. The task
of reason was to teach humans how to act virtuously and employ their
capabilities in a manner consistent with virtue. Aristotle described the good
life as the activity of the soul in conformity with virtue.

4. In your own words, what is the meaning of good life according to:
a. Materialism
 Materialism is defined as the belief that everything can be explained in terms
of matter, or that goods and wealth are the most essential things in life.
b. Hedonism
 Hedonism is the philosophy of pleasure. It means doing whatever brings you
the greatest amount of pleasure, regardless of any other effects.
c. Stoicism
 Stoicism holds that the key to a good, happy life is the cultivation of an
excellent mental state, which the stoics identified with virtue and being
rational. Stoicism is a tool in the pursuit of self-mastery, perseverance, and
 wisdom: something one uses to live a great life, rather than some esoteric field
of academic inquiry.
d. Theism
 According to theism, human life would be pointless if there was no personal
immortality and no God.
e. Humanism
 Humanism is a democratic and ethical life stance which affirms that human
beings have the right and responsibility to give meaning and shape to their
own lives. It stands for the building of a more humane society through an
ethics based on human and other natural values in a spirit of reason and free
inquiry through human capabilities. It is not theistic, and it does not accept
supernatural views of reality.
5. Among the five philosophies, what has opposing and similar beliefs regarding
good life?
 Materialism and Hedonism are diametrically opposed because materialism is
the belief that everything can be explained in terms of matter, or that goods
and wealth are the most important things, whereas Hedonism is the belief that
pleasure, or the lack of pain, is the most important principle in determining the
morality of a potential course of action. Both of these philosophies have the
ability to provide pleasure to people or humans.
B.
1. For me, the true definition of good life is having opportunities for learning, growth
and development that challenged and stretch us. And also based on the compassionate
deeds you perform and the personal goals you strive to achieve

2. Among the five philosophers I believe in Aristotle because as he speaks the “good
life” as the happy life; he does not mean that the “good life” is merely one of feeling
happy or amused. Rather, as the “good life” for a person is the active life of
functioning well in those ways that are essential and unique to humans. Aristotle’s
idea of the “good life” is very similar to mine because my definition of the “good
life” is merely one with a balanced lifestyle, accomplished goals and dreams,
receiving an education, and stability in all aspects of life.

3. Among the five philosophies, I am a theist because worshipping is a great way to

motivate myself. In addition, this is the only thing that makes sense to me. I cannot
intellectually perceive how the life in its current form can be sustained without the
presence of our God and moreover what is the source and purpose of my existence.