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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1024x683.jpg
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