Topic 6: The Good Life

Learning Objectives

After successful completion of this topic, you should be able to:

• Examine what is meant by a good life in various philosophies;

• Examine what you consider to be the good life and determine which philosophy that
represents;
• Identify how humans attempt to attain what is deemed to be a good life;
• Recognize possibilities available to human beings to attain the good life; and
• Examine shared concerns that make up the good life in order to come up with innovative,
creative solutions and ethical solutions.

Presentation of Contents

What is Good Life as Perceived by different schools of thought?

Aristotle and Good Life

It is interesting to note that the first philosopher who approached the problem of reality from
scientific lens is Aristotle who is also the first thinker who dabbled into the complex
problematization of the end goal of life: happiness.

Compared to his predecessor and teacher, Plato, Aristotle embarked on different approach in
figuring out reality. Plato thought that things in this world are not real and are only copies of the
real in the world of forms. While Aristotle puts everything back to the ground in claiming that this
world is all there and that this world is the only reality, we can all access.
Aristotle also forwarded the idea that there is no reality over and above what the senses can
perceive. As such, it is only by observation of the external world that one can truly understand
what reality is all about. Change is a process that is inherent in things. We, along with all other
entities in the world start as potentialities and move towards actualities. The movement, of course,
entails change.
 https://wellbeingmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/seedling-growth.jpg

Figure 6.1

Look at the seed in the picture. It eventually germinates and grows into a plant. The seed that
turned to become the plant underwent change from the potential plant that is the seed to its full
actuality.

This can be likened to what Aristotle says that every human person aspires for an end. This end is
happiness or human flourishing. And no one resists happiness because we all want to be happy.

Materialism
The first materialists were the atomists in Ancient Greece. Democritus and Leucippus led a school
whose primary belief is that the world is made up of and is controlled by the tiny indivisible units
in the world called atomos or seeds. Accordingly, the world including human beings, is made up
of matter and there is no need to possess immaterial entities as sources of purpose. Atoms simply
comes together randomly to form the things in the world. As such, only material entities matter.
 https://zenfulspirit.com/2018/02/16/materialism/
Figure 6.2

In terms of human flourishing, matter is what makes us attain happiness. The material things we
possess give us ultimate happiness. We see this at work with most people who are clinging on to
material wealth as the primary source of meaning of their existence.
Hedonism
The Hedonists see the end goal of life in acquiring pleasure. Pleasure has always been the
priority of hedonists. For them life is obtaining and indulging in pleasure because life is limited.
They believe that pleasure give meaning to their life without thinking of the future. The mantra
of this school of thought is the famous, “Eat, drink and merry for tomorrow we will die.

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Figure 6.3

Stoicism
Another school of thought led by Epicurus, the stoics, exposed the idea that to generate happiness,
one must learn to distance oneself and be apathetic. The original term apatheia, precisely means to
be indifferent. These group believe that they can do things at their own and believe that happiness
can only be attained by a careful practice of apathy.
 http://lyfetainment.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/1.-Can-Loneliness-Kill-You-Why-You- Feel-
Lonely.jpg
Figure 6.4

Theism
Most people find the meaning of their lives using God as the fulcrum of their existence. The
Philippines, as predominantly country, is witness to how people base their life goals on beliefs that
hinged on some form of supernatural reality called heaven. The ultimate basis of happiness for
theists is the communion with God.

https://coffeewiththelord.files.wordpress.com/2019/04/god-alone.jpg?w=350&h=200&crop=1
Figure 6.5
Humanism
Humanism as another school of thought espouses the freedom of man to carve his own destiny and
to legislate his own laws, free from the shackles of a God that monitors and controls. For
humanists, man is literally the captain of his own ship. They see themselves not merely as stewards
of the creation but as individuals who are in control of themselves and the world outside them.

As a result of the motivation of the humanist current, scientists eventually turned to technology in
order to ease the difficulty of life. Scientists of today meanwhile are ready to confront more
sophisticated attempts at altering the world for the benefit of humanity. Some people now are
willing to tamper with time and space in the name of technology.

https://soheefit.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Screenshot-2014-04-10-13.04.01.png
Figure 6.5
 Application

Acitivity2: Fill in the blanks

Using the table below, list down the different advantages and disadvantages of the different
schools of thought in attaining good life and happiness.

School of Thought Advantages Disadvantages

1. Materialism

2. Hedonism

3. Stoicism
 4. Theism

5. Humanism

Feedback

Activity 3: Think about these questions

1. What is a good life?

2. What is the relationship between good life and science?

Does technology always lead us to the good life? Support your answer.