Module 4.

Lesson 1: THE GOOD LIFE

What Does It Mean to Live the Good Life?
General https://www.thoughtco.com/what-is-the-good-life-4038226

I. HUMAN WELL BEING AND THE GOOD LIFE BY ARISTOTLE (Nicomachean Ethics)
The HIGHEST GOOD for most people:
1. ACQUISITION OF MATERIAL WEALTH: for acquisition of something else
2. HONOR: not connected to the character of the person himself but how other perceive
him
3. BODILY PLEASURE: not peculiar to humans
For ARISTOTLE: these are deficient. To him, REASON must be maximized.
THE MAXIMIZATION OF REASON (the faculty of HUMAN BEINGS that separates them from
ANIMALS/satisfying bodily pleasures not fit for humans) IS THE MOST IMPORTANT
COMPONENT OF THE HIGHEST GOOD

REQUISITES OF ATTAINING GOOD LIFE

MAXIMIZATION OF REASON requires VIRTUES:

1. INTELLECTUAL VIRTUES (SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE)
Good life focus significantly on CONTEMPLATION/ LEARNING
1. Knowledge of first principle or fundamental traits of nature
2. Knowledge from inference or demonstration/results of applying the first principle

INTELLECTUAL VIRTUES (act rightly and develop appropriate state of character from which
to perform right actions)

But Intellectual Virtues Not Sufficient

2. CHARACTER VIRTUES (acts rightly to develop courage , temperance, generosity):

- acquired thru habituation (training) and life experience
- acts as middle ground between the vices of excess and deficiency
cowardly ----- COURAGE---- overly rash

INTELLECTUAL VIRTUES + CHARACTER VIRTUES = EUDAIMONIA (The “HIGHEST GOOD”;

HAPPINESS)

3. EXTERNAL FACTORS
Acquiring VIRTUES (intellectual and character) require more than studying/learning and
habituation. Certain EXTERNAL FACTORS often BEYOND THE CONTROL OF THE
INDIVIDUAL are required: THE RIGHT TYPE OF STATE/NATION/GOVERNMENT

THE STATE should allow people to LIVE WELL, NOT JUST TO LIVE. Legislators must make use
of the law to help improve the CHARACTER of individuals from WORST to BETTER, BAD TO
GOOD.
 from VICIOUS (deliberately cruel to violent): derives pleasure from acting badly
to INCONTINENT (no self-restraint, uncontrolled): inclined to act wrongly out of
weakness;
to CONTINENT (self-restrained): possesses strength of will but acts rightly though
inclined to do wrong; not fully satisfied because he did not satisfy his desire
to VIRTUOUS (righteous, good, moral, ethical, upright): satisfied his inclinations and
rational desires
wants to do what is right and does it: derives pleasure from good behavior

To accomplish this change in character, INDIVIDUAL must POSSESS:

1. REASON
2. Know difference between GOOD and BAD behavior

The ROLE OF WELL-ORDERED STATE: HELPS INDIVIDUAL MAKE PROGRESSION FROM WORST TO
BETTER, FROM BAD TO GOOD
LAWS are able to habituate people to perform correct actions that become habit over time;
individuals acquire affinity for good behavior
LEGISLATORS must possess the intellectual virtue of PHRONESIS: know what constitutes
virtuous and vicious behavior to direct people to do what is right

SUMMARY
Human lives well when he
1. ACTS RIGHTLY
2. POSSESSESS ALL VIRTUES (INTELLECTUAL AND CHARACTER)
3. IS GUIDED BY RIGHT GOVERNANCE

SOCIAL JUSTICE: obligations to less fortunate to help them live as well as possible

Watch these You Tube videos:

Aristotle The Good Life. Chris Surprenant. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFPBf1AZOQg
Human Flourishing and the Good Life. Ryo Jerome Tuzon. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=neYz91o2Stc.
Introduction (until 2:28);
Aristotle’s Eudaimonia-human flourishing (2:30-8:14}
The Good Life and Plato’s concept (20:45-27:13)
Aristotle’s concept (27:15- 27:59)
Sociological Philosophies (27:60-37:48).

The Good Life: Concepts/Theories/Philosophies. Errol Karl Gumagay. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kbGptJvrRY.)

Plato (idealism) and Aristotle (Realism). 2:30-6:09;
Whose good should be maximized: Utilitarianism. 6:10- 7:57
What is good: Hedonism, Materialism, Stoicism, Theism, Humanism. 7:58-14:08

Aristotles Ethical Theory: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iSLsUO6uK4M

Aristotle and Virtue: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PrvtOWEXDIQ

II. ALTERNATIVE THEORIES ON GOOD LIFE

THE PHILOSOPHIES BETWEEN THE GOOD AND RIGHT

1. HEDONISM
"Hedone" means "pleasure": the foremost critical interest of mankind, and the only thing
that is good for an individual. A school of thought spearheaded by Epicurus.
Maximize pleasure to delight; pleasure is the only good in life, pain is the only evil, and our
life's goal should be to maximize pleasure and minimize pain.
2. STOICISM
Founded by Zeno of Citium in Athens in the early 3rd century BC. Teaches the development
of self-control and fortitude as a means of overcoming destructive emotions
Epitomizes by three essential beliefs:
a. virtue (wisdom, justice, courage, and moderation) is sufficient for happiness
b. other so-called goods should be regarded with indifference, and
c. the world is providentially ordered by a force called “logos”- the path of the
universe.

3. MATERIALISM
A traditional thought that all things are made up of
matter in some way. All existence is made up of energy
in some form. Matter is a form of energy. All things
that exist are made of energy etoms, molecules, forces
and other entities that consist enery.There are no non-
physical or non-material existents.
All human behaviour is explained in physical terms.
There are no minds separate from the brain. There are
no souls nor spirits and NO GOD.
Highly materialistic people believe that owning and buying things are necessary means
to achieve important life goals, such as happiness, success and desirability.
4. THEISM
Theism states that the existence and continuance of the universe is owed to one
supreme Being, who is distinct from Creation. For this reason, theism proclaims a
dualistic relation between God and the world, wherein God is a being who controls
events from outside of the human world.
5. HUMANISM
An outlook or system of thought attaching prime
importance to human rather than divine or
supernatural matters. Humanist beliefs stress the
potential value and goodness of human beings,
emphasize common human needs, and seek solely
rational ways of solving human problems.
Humanism stresses the importance of human values and dignity. It proposes that people can
resolve problems through science and reason. Rather than looking to religious traditions,
humanism focuses on helping people live well, achieve personal growth, and make the world
a better place

YOUTUBE VIDEOS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynS6vSADCz0 Chard Alova (Aristotle and Good Life
to Materialism and Hedonism)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jdn7owaAORA Chard Alova (Aristotle and Good
Life to Stoicism, Theism, and Humanism)