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0 10-July-2020

Study Guide in GE 6: Science, Technology, and Society Module No. 7

STUDY GUIDE FOR MODULE NO. 7

THE GOOD LIFE

MODULE OVERVIEW

One of the oldest philosophical questions is, “What is the good life?” It can be expressed in a variety of
ways, such as: “How should I live?”; “Am I living well?”; and “Do I lead a happy life?”, although they all refer to
the same question. In any case, everyone strives to lead a happy, fulfilling life; nobody wants to lead a miserable
one.
These questions are more complicated than they appear. For individuals and different situations, the
definition of a good life can change and be articulated in various ways. In order to define what a good life is, we
shall use Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics in this module's discussion of his philosophy.

MODULE LEARNING OBJECTIVES

At the end of this Module, you should be able to:

1. Discuss Aristotle’s concept of a Good Life
2. Examine shared concerns that make up the good life in order to come up with innovative, creative
solutions to contemporary issues guided by ethical standards

LEARNING ACTIVITY 1

Before continuing on this Module, let us have a short diagnostic test to find out your ideas about life,
happiness, and how to achieve a good life. Select the statements below with which you agree.

1. Only humans can be truly happy.

2. Goodness is something that one is born with.
3. A good life and a happy life are one and the same.
4. Complete and happiness can never be attained.
5. To achieve a good life, one should strive to attain happiness.
6. To have a good life, one should always live a life of moderation.
7. Science and technology play an important role in the attainment of a good life.
8. Attaining honor, fame, wealth and power are important aspects of having a good life.

ARISTOTLE AND HIS PHILOSOPHY

Aristotle, Plato, and Socrates were known as the "Big Three of Greek Philosophy." Aristotle was a student
of Plato, who was then a student of Socrates. He was the most important philosopher and scientist of ancient
Greece and lived from 384 to 322 BC.

In contrast to the mathematician Plato's rationalism (truth discovered largely by reason), Aristotle was
more of an empiricist (truth discovered primarily by the senses) due to his background in biological topics.
Aristotle attended Plato's academy but later created his own school, the Lyceum.

Aristotle wrote on a remarkable range of topics such as logic, metaphysics, physics, epistemology,
astronomy, meteorology, biology, psychology, ethics, politics, law, and poetics.

We can say that Aristotle influenced more subjects for a longer period of time than any thinker in the
history. His scientific theories were accepted as truth for 2000 years, his logic is being applied today, and his
impact can still be seen in many branches of philosophy. For millennia, his ideas in a variety of domains were
regarded as indisputable, and his contributions to politics and ethics continue to have a significant impact today.
He is regarded as one of the finest philosophers in Western philosophy history.

Watch this YouTube video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=csIW4W DYX4) to learn more about Aristotle
and his various points of view. This will also introduce you to his philosophy of what a good life entail Taking
down of notes is encouraged.

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NICOMACHEAN ETHICS AND THE GOOD LIFE

In the video, it is said that “science must be guided by some ethical basis that is not dictated by science
itself.” The work of Aristotle entitled Nicomachean Ethics may be one of these ethical bases.

Aristotle’s work contains two works that mainly concern ethics: the Nicomachean Ethics (which may
refer to one of his sons named Nicomachus) and the Eudemian Ethics (which may refer to one of his friends,
Eudemus of Rhodes). Some of the Books in the Eudemian Ethics are identical to that of the Nicomachean
Ethics, and it was thought Eudemian Ethics was written first before Nicomachean Ethics. Nicomachean Ethics,
however, is the more popular of these two Aristotelian works.

The Nichomachean Ethics (abbreviated as NE or sometimes EN), is a work that deals with “the nature
of moral life and human happiness based on the unique essence of human nature”. It is concerned with the
"end of the things we pursue in our actions," what he calls the "best good" for a human being (NE I.2.1094a).

These work containing ten books were originally lecture notes that he taught at the Lyceum. The outline
of the said book is as follows:

NE I.1095a-I.1096a. The best good

NE I.1097b-I.1098a.
NE I.1102a-II.1109b.
NE III.1109b-1115a.
NE III.1115a-IV.1128b.
NE V.1129a-1138b.
NE VI.1138b-1145a.
NE VII.1145a-1154b.
NE VIII.1155a-IX.1172a.
NE X.1172a-1181b.
The argument from function
Virtue and the soul
Necessary conditions for virtue
Virtues of character
Justice
Virtues of thought
Continence, pleasure
Friendship
Pleasure, happiness, legislation

To read Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics, you may open this link:

http://classics.mit.edu/Aristotle/nicomachaen.html. In the course of this module, you will be repeatedly referred
to this text.

THE CONCEPT OF EUDAIMONIA

Everyone has their own concept of what characterizes what “good” is. Ancient Greeks believed that
good can be intrinsic (something which is valued for themselves and not for something else) and instrumental
(something which is valued for something else and not for themselves). In the Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle
discussed his concept of what good is, what a good life is, and how to attain it. This concept of eudaimonia
(from the Greek eu meaning good and daimon meaning spirit), which can be translated as the good life, is the
subject of Book 1 of Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics.

To understand the concept of eudaimonia in Aristotle’s work, please read Book 1 of Nicomachean
Ethics. In reading the said book, take note of the following:
a. What good means
b. What happiness means
c. What a good person is
d. What a good life is
e. The difference between humans and other living things

ATTAINING EUDAIMONIA

Now that you have learned the concept of what a good life is, we should now consider how to attain it.
Aristotle argued that the development of a good moral character was the way to bridge the gap between knowing
about the good life and actually living it. This necessitates the formation of good habits. A good habit enables

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us to perform certain actions automatically.

Aristotle calls good habits virtues or excellences. Humans have both excellences of intellect
(theoretical and practical reason), a.k.a. intellectual virtue or virtue of thought, and excellences of character,
a.k.a moral virtue or virtue of character.

To understand the concept of virtues and excellences, please read Book 2 of Nicomachean Ethics. In
reading the said book, take note of the following:
a. What virtue and vice means
b. The types of virtues and their characteristics
c. How one can live a life of virtue

LEARNING ACTIVITY 2

Direction: Read each statement carefully. If the statement is a notion of a "Good Life," according to Aristotle,
write TRUE; otherwise, write FALSE.

1. the good life is the happy life, happiness is an end in itself.

2. the good life for a person is the active life of functioning well in those ways that are essential and
unique to humans.
3. Good life is simply one of feeling happy or amused.
4. Wealth is not happiness, but it can be used to gain some happiness.
5. The final end of human life is to flourish, to live well, to have a good life.
6. Good habits or moral virtues are the principal means to having good lives because they allow us to
habitually make the choices that both constitute and lead to good lives.
7. Money or power are considered as intrinsic valuables.
8. A happy life is one that consists of numerous requirements having been fulfilled to some degree.
9. To have a truly good life we should aim for a balance.
10. Relationships are very important in a good life.

LEARNING ACTIVITY 3

Reflection

Now that you have learned what a good life is and how to achieve it, we can now ask how these ideas
related to the progress of science and technology. To do so, reflect on the following questions:

1. How is moving towards a good life the same as moving towards progress in science and technology?
2. Does science and technology advancement always lead to a good life? Why or why not? Cite
examples to illustrate your point.

SUMMARY

The following learning points summarize what you have learned in this section:

• According to Aristotle, every act is aimed at the good and thus the good may be expressed in different
ways. However, the good life is a different thing. He said that the attainment of the ultimate good is
what constitutes the good life.
• Eudaimonia means the good life, which is marked by happiness and excellence. It is a flourishing life
filled with meaningful endeavors that empower the human person to be the best version of
himself/herself.
• According to Aristotle, man’s “form” comprises a soul, which has a plant-like part, an animal part, and
a rational part.
• Man can only achieve happiness by using all his abilities and capabilities or living a life of virtue.
• Virtue is the excellence of character that empowers one to do good and be good. Its opposite is called
vice.
• According to Aristotle, there are two types of virtue: intellectual and moral.

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• Aristotle held that there are three forms of happiness. The first form of happiness is a life of pleasure
and enjoyment. The second form of happiness is a life as a free and responsible citizen. The third form
of happiness is a life as thinker and philosopher. Aristotle then emphasized that all three criteria must
be present at the same time for man to find happiness and fulfillment. He rejected all forms of imbalance.
• Aristotle advocated the “Golden Mean.” The ethics of Aristotle contain echoes of Greek medicine: only
by exercising balance and temperance will I achieve a happy or “harmonious” life.

REFERENCES

• Aristotle. Nicomachean Ethics. Bartlett, R. and Collins C. (Trans.). Chicago, IL: The University of
Chicago Press. Retrieved from: http://classics.mit.edu/Aristotle/nicomachaen.html
• Blackwell (2011). Contemplation contributes to Happiness most of all Ancient Greek Philosophy: From
the Presocratics to the Hellenistic Philosophers, Last modified on 06/25/2020 04:30:40. Retrieved from:
https://tomblackson.com/Ancient/chapter101.html
• Messerly, John. Aristotle on the Good Life. December 19, 2013. Retrieved from:
https://reasonandmeaning.com/2013/12/19/aristotle-on-the-good-and-meaningful-life/
• Messerly, John. Summary of Aristotle’s Theory of Human Nature. October 17, 2014. Retrieved from:
https://reasonandmeaning.com/2014/10/17/theories-of-human-nature-chapter-9-aristotle-part-1/
• Quinto, Edward Jay M. and Nieva, Aileen D. (2019). Science, Technology, and Society. pp 95-109.
Quezon City: C&E Publishing.
• United Nations Environment Programme (2011). Towards a green economy: pathways to sustainable
development and poverty eradication. Retrieved from:
https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/content/documents/126GER_synthesis_en.pdf

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