SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND SOCIETY - MODULE 6: THE GOOD LIFE
THE GOOD LIFE ● components of a happy
MEANING AND ELEMENTS OF “THE
GOOD LIFE”
HEDONISTIC THEORY
- How individuals feel regarding the
quality of his or her experiences
- Identifies self-interest with happiness
- Presence of pleasure and absence
of pain
PREFERENCE THEORY
- What one wants most for himself or
herself.
- EXAMPLE: Some prefer material
wealth over prestige, fame, or good
reputation.
OBJECTIVE LIST THEORY
- Elements that are independent of
personal preferences.
- Valuable experiences: meaningful
relationships, friendships &
accomplishments.
SUSAN WOLF
- Happiness and meaningfulness are
important elements of good life.
- One’s life is meaningful when he/she
is committed, passionate, and
involved in activities of worth.
- One’s involvement in any activity
may not always bring pleasantness
and enjoyment.
ANTONIA MACARO
- Listed components of good life
based on the writings of Aristotle.
1. SUCCESS AND MATERIAL
COMFORT
● 5Ps: Power, Prestige,
Pleasure, Position, and
Prosperity
successful life, do not
constitute a good life.
● Dr. Ron Jenson’s book,
“Make a Life Not Just a
Living.”
● Fame does not mean
happiness.
● Material wealth: not the final
good but only a means to an
end.
● Success: not the ultimate
good because it is still
dependent on validation of
society.
● Moderate quantity of
material comfort is necessary
for one’s well-being
(Aristotle).
2. PLEASURE
● Not ultimate good, but good
in moderation.
● Does not automatically
translate to good life.
● Desire for pleasure is form of
hedonism; pleasure is
highest goal.
● Self-focused pleasure is not
long-term happiness.
● Best kind of pleasure:
derived from being involved
in worthwhile activity.
● Good life is balance between
value and pleasure.
3. RELATIONSHIPS
● Meaningful, pleasant
relations with mutual
admiration.
● Cultivating good relationships
within different aspects of
one’s life contributes to the
quality of one’s life
4. REASON AND VIRTUES
SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND SOCIETY - MODULE 6: THE GOOD LIFE
●
Reason: element of ultimate
good, contemplation of
unchangeable truths.
● Capacity to make decisions
in sphere of what can be
changed.
● Theoretical and practical
reasons: intellectual virtues
that are central parts of good
life.
● To flourish as human beings:
development of virtues of
character includes learning to
act according to reason.
5. CHARACTER AND SPIRITUALITY
● An Individual’s character is
the root of his/ her inner
strength (Dr. Ron Jenson).
● To fear God and keep his
commandments are
fundamental duties of man.
(King Solomon)
STEPS TOWARD THE GOOD LIFE
- Anne Birgitta Pessi (2018)
provides a novel arrow model that
illustrates essential steps toward a
good life.
- 1. Relationship
- 2. balance
- 3. health
- 4. secure income
- 5. fulfilling oneself
- 6. values and spirituality
- 7. work
- 8. leisure
1. RELATIONSHIPS
● Most central step toward
good life.
● Most important and central
themes concerned family;
spouse or children.
● Friends and other social
relationships.
2. BALANCE
● Significant theme: peace of
mind like elements of
equilibrium, safety, being at
peace with oneself,
contentment, and
physical/psychic/ mental
being.
3. HEALTH
4. SECURE INCOME OR FINANCES
5. FULFILLING ONESELF
● Abstract element.
● Meaningfulness - most
significant theme.
● Meaningful things to do,
purpose in life, reaching
goals, living according to
one’s values, and having
dreams and joys in life.
6. VALUES AND SPIRITUALITY
● Being at peace.
● Two most central themes:
peace and safety in a rather
literal sense.
● Peaceful home/dwelling and
neighborhood.
● Peace of soul in relation to
one’s wholesome basic
values.
7. MEANINGFUL WORK AND
HOBBIES
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AS A
MEANS TO ACHIEVE A GOOD LIFE
- Science and technology changed
the way we live, work,
communicate and connect with
one another.
- Progress can be seen as parallel to
how humans move toward what is
perceived as good life.
- Ultimate good is the measure of the
value of all human activities.
SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND SOCIETY - MODULE 6: THE GOOD LIFE

- Ultimate value of life measures how

well one has lived up to his or her
full potential as human being.
- Technological process as means to
achieve a good and fulfilled life must
necessarily equate to advancements
that are anchored in balance and
human values