THE GOOD LIFE


Prepared by: Louise Marie L. Bañados
 Lesson Objectives

At the end of this lesson, the students should be able to:
Examine what is meant by a good life
Identify how humans attempts to attain what is
deemed to be a good life
Recognize possibilities available to human being to
attain the good life
 Introduction

In Ancient Greece, long before the word “science” has
been coined, the need to understand the world and
reality was bound with the need to understand self and
the good life.

For Plato, the task of understanding the things in the

world runs parallel with the job of truly getting into
what will make the soul flourish.
 Introduction

It was Aristotle who gave a definitive distinction
between the theoretical and practical sciences. Among
the theoretical disciplines, Aristotle included logic,
biology, physics, and metaphysics, among others.
Among the practical ones, Aristotle counted ethics and
politics. Whereas “truth” is the aim of the theoretical
sciences, the “good” is the end goal of the practical
ones. Every attempt to know is connected in some way
in an attempt to find the “good” or the attainment of
human flourishing.
 Introduction

In an attempt to understand reality and the external
world, man must seek to understand himself too.

In this lesson, we endeavor to go back a little and

answer these questions: What does it really mean to
have a good life? What qualifies as a good existence?
Aristotle and the Good Life

Every human person, according to Aristotle, aspires for
an end. This end goal of life: HAPPINESS.

No individual resists happiness. We all want to be

happy. People do things that in the end would make
them happy. Happiness according to Aristotle means
human flourishing, a kind of contentment in knowing
that one is getting the best out of life.
 Happiness as the Goal

In the 18th century, John Stuart Mill declared the
Greatest Happiness Principle by saying that “an
action is right as far as it maximizes the attainment of
happiness for the greatest number of people”.

Mill said that individual happiness of each individual

should be prioritized and collectively dictates the kind
of action that should be endorsed.
 Happiness as the Goal

School of thought that aims for the good and happy life:
 Materialism
 Hedonism
 Stoicism
 Theism
 Humanism
 Materialism

The first materialist were the atomists in Ancient Greece
led by Democritus and Leucippus.

A way of thinking that gives too much importance to

material possessions rather than to spiritual or
intellectual things.

In terms of human flourishing, matter is what makes us

attain happiness. We see this at work with most people
who are clinging on to material wealth as the primary
source of the 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 about obtaining and
indulging in pleasure because life is limited. Their
mantra is, “Eat, drink, and be merry for tomorrow we die”.

Led by Epicurus, this school of thought also does not

buy any notion of afterlife just like the materialists since
their happiness come from worldly pleasures.
 Stoicism

Another school of thought led by Epicurus, the stoics
espoused the idea that to generate happiness, one must
learn to distance oneself and be apathetic.

The quality or behavior of a person who accepts what

happens without complaining or showing emotion.

For the stoics, happiness can only be attained by a

careful practice of apathy. We should adopt the fact that
some things are not within our control. The sooner we
realize this, the happier we become.
 Theism

Most people find the meaning of their lives using God
as a fulcrum of their existence. The ultimate basis of
happiness for theists is the communion with God.

The world where we are in is only just a temporary

reality where we have to maneuver around while
waiting for the ultimate return to the hands of God.
 Humanism

Humanism 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. Humanists see themselves as individuals who
control of themselves and the world outside them.

This is the spirit of most scientist who thought that the

world is a place for freely seeking ways how to improve
lives of its inhabitants.
 Summary

Man is constantly in pursuit of the good life. Every person
has his perspective when it comes to what comprises the
good life. Throughout history, man has worked hard in
pointing out what amounts to a good, happy life.

Science and technology has been, for the most part, at the
forefront of mans’ attempts at finding this happiness. The
only question of the day is whether science is taking the
right path toward attaining what it really means to live a
good life.
 Activity

The Good Life Collage

Cut out pictures from used magazines, newspapers,

and/or brochures that demonstrate what “good life” is
for you. Create a collage out of your chosen pictures
and placed it on a bond paper.

Based from your finished collage, what school of thought

do you practice often in order for you to attain
happiness and “good life”. Write your thoughts at the
back of your output.