What is Life

Sept 28, 2022 Darwin Louise Angeles Ethics

Defining life…
“The meaning of life” actually refers to various
intrinsic values—various values that “really
matter.” To live a meaningful life is to attain and
promote intrinsic goods.
There are things that philosophers Happiness Goodwill
Pain
considered to have intrinsic value: Pleasure Virtue
Intrinsic Values
Pain

“Pain” isn’t just a physical feeling. It’s every sort of

emotional pain and suffering. Knowing someone we love
died can be more painful than a great deal of physical pain.

Pleasure

“Pleasure” isn’t just a physical feeling, like pleasure from

eating food or having sex. It can also refer to the emotional
delight and enjoyment that comes with our personal success,
spending time with friends, and so on.
Intrinsic Values

Happiness

Many philosophers equate “happiness” with “pleasure,” but there is a lot more to be said about

happiness. It’s much like joy and delight, but it doesn’t necessarily refer only to “momentary” feeling. It

seems to refer more to a consistent sort of state of mind or existence.

To be happy isn’t just to feel good that moment, but to constantly feel that you have a fulfilling life,

even when you are currently in pain. Momentary pain is not enough to invalidate our sense of having a

good life.
Intrinsic Values

Happiness

To be happy isn’t just to feel good that moment, but to constantly feel that

you have a fulfilling life, even when you are currently in pain. Momentary pain

is not enough to invalidate our sense of having a good life.

Intrinsic Values
Virtue
Virtue is best defined as “being willing and able to do
good.” This is certainly of the utmost importance because it
is so helpful to doing good things.

Goodwill
Immanuel Kant defines “good will” as the kind of force
that can put practical reason into action as a separate force
from desire. It sounds like he believes that good will has
intrinsic value, but Zimmerman cautions us to be careful
when interpreting Kant’s understanding of value (ibid).
Certainly, good will could be of the utmost importance, but
that might be only because it enables us to do what is right.
“When life is getting you down, sit down, have a
drink and a think, things then begin to look a lot
clearer.”