The Good Life

ANNE LORRAINE J. PINEDA

The Good Life

INTRODUCES CONCEPTS FROM TACKLES THE IMPORTANT AIMS TO ANSWER THE

ARISTOTLE 'S NICHOMACHEAN ARISTOTELIAN CONCEPTS OF QUESTION, "ARE WE
ETHICS AND EXAMINES ISSUES EUDAIMONIA AND ARÊTE, AND LIVING THE GOOD LIFE?"
IN CONTEMPORARY SCIENCE HOW THESE CAN BE USED TO
AND TECHNOLOGY USING THE ASSESS ONE'S RELATIONSHIP
SAME PHILOSOPHICAL LENS. AND DEALINGS WITH SCIENCE
AND TECHNOLOGY.
Intended Learning Outcomes

• define the idea of the good life;

• discuss Aristotle's concept of
eudaimonia and arête; and
• examine contemporary issues and
come up with innovative and
creative solutions to contemporary
AT THE END OF THIS issues guided by ethical standards
SECTION, THE STUDENTS leading to a good life.
SHOULD BE ABLE TO:
 "Are we living the good life?,"
necessary reflection must be
made on two things:
• what standard could be used
to define 'the good life?'
• how can the standard serve

Aristotle's as a guide toward living the

good life in the midst of
specific progress and
In the documentary
film, The Magician's

Nichomachea technological advancement?

Twin: C.S. Lewis and
the Case against
Scientism, C.S. Lewis
n Ethics and posited that "science
must be guided by
the Good Life Aristotle, who lived from
384 to 322 BC, is probably
some ethical basis is
Aristotle's
the most important ancient
Greek philosopher and Nichomachean Ethics.
scientist. He was a student
of Plato, who was then a
student of Socrates.
Together, they were
considered the 'Big Three
of Greek Philosophy.'
 Aristotle's Nichomachean Ethics, the fundamental basis of
Aristotelian ethics, consist of ten books. Originally, there were
lecture notes written on scrolls when he taught at the Lyceum.
It is widely believed that the lecture notes were compiled by or
were dedicated to one of Aristotle's sons, Nichomacus.
Alternatively, it is believed that the work was dedicated to
Aristotle's father who was of the same name.

Aristotle's
Nichomachea The Nichomachean Ethics, abbreviated as NE or
sometimes EN based on the Latin version of the

n Ethics and name, is a treatise on the nature of moral life and

human happiness based on the unique essence of

the Good Life human nature.

The NE is particularly useful in defining what

the good life is.
 Everyone  has a definition of what good is-
getting a college degree, travelling across the
world, succeeding in a business venture,
becoming a healthy and active lifestyle, or being
a responsible parent.
Aristotle's However, although everyone aims to that
Nichomachea which is good. Aristotle positioned two types
of good. In Ne Book 2 Chapter 2 (NE 2:2).
n Ethics and He made it clear that the
Aristotle explained that
the Good Life
ultimate good is better
every action aim at some than instrumental good for
good. However, some the latter is good as a
actions aim at an means of achieving
instrumental good while something else or some
some at an intrinsic good. other end while the former
is good in itself.
 Everyone  has a definition of what good is- getting a
college degree, travelling across the world, succeeding
in a business venture, becoming a healthy and active
lifestyle, or being a responsible parent.

Aristotle's
Nichomachea Aristotle explained that
every action aim at some

n Ethics and However, although

good. However, some
actions aim at an

the Good Life

instrumental good while
everyone aims to that some at an intrinsic
which is good. good.
Aristotle positioned He made it clear that the
two types of good. In ultimate good is better
than instrumental good
Ne Book 2 Chapter 2 for the latter is good as a
(NE 2:2). means of achieving
something else or some
other end while the
former is good in itself.
 Eudaimonia: The Ultimate Good
Based on the contrast
What then is between two types of good,
the ultimate one could reflect on some
good? potential candidates for the
ultimate good.

One might think that

pleasure in the food Second, pleasure
they eat or in the First, it is transitory – does not encompass
experiences they it passes. all aspects of life.
immerse themselves
into. Yet, while
One may be pleased
pleasure is an with an opportunity to
important human One may have been travel but that may not
need, it can not be pleased with the food make him or her feel
ultimate good. they had for lunch, but good about leaving, say,
he or she will be hungry his or her studies or the
again or will want relationship he or she
something else for a has been struggling
while. with.
 Eudaimonia: The Ultimate Good
Others might think that wealth is a potential candidate for the ultimate good, but a critique of
wealth would prove otherwise.

Indeed, many, if not most, aim to be financially stable, to be rich, or to be able to afford a
luxurious life. However it is very common to hear people say that they aim to be wealthy in so
far as it would help them achieve some other goals.

Elsewhere, it is also common to hear stories about people who have become very wealthy but
remain, by and large, unhappy with the lives they lead. In this sense, wealth is just an
intermediate good- that is only instrumental.

It is not the ultimate good because it is not self- sufficient and does not stop in from aiming for
some other 'greater' good.
 Eudaimonia: The Ultimate Good
Another candidate for the
ultimate good is fame and
honor.
Many people act according to how
they think they will be admired and
appreciated by other people.
However, these cannot constitute
the ultimate good, simply  because
they are bases on the perception of
others.
Many people today seem to be motivated by
a desire to be known- to be famous. Others
strive for honor and recognition. This is
reflected by those people who use social
media to acquire large virtual following on
the internet and wish to gain a foothold on
the benefits that fame brings.
Fame and honor can never be good
in themselves. If one's definition is
good life is being popular and
respected, then the hood life
becomes elusive since it is based on
the subjective views of others.
 Eudaimonia: The Ultimate Good In the Aristotelian sense,
happiness is " living well
and doing well" ( NE 1:4).

Among the Greeks, this is known as

eudaimonias from the root words eu,
meaning good, and daimon, meaning
spirit. Combining the root words
eudaimonia means happiness or
welfare.

More accurately, others translate it as

human flourishing or prosperity.
Unlike pleasure, wealth, fame and
honor, HAPPINESS is the ultimate Aristotle proposed two hallmarks of
good. eudaimonia, namely virtue and
excellence (NE 1: 7).

Eudaimonia transcends
all aspect of life for it is
about living well and
doing well in whatever
one does.
 Eudaimonia: Uniquely Human?

 Eudaimonia or happiness is unique to

humans for it is uniquely human
function. HUMANS ANIMALS PLANTS
 It is achieved only through a rationally RATIONAL SENSITIVE NUTRITIVE
directed life. (rational) (partly rational) (non rational)
 Aristotle's notion of a tripartite soul is
Theoretical Locomotion Growth Nutrition
summarized in Table 1 illustrates a Practical Perception Reproduction
nested hierarchy of the function and
activities of the soul.
 Thus, on the nutritive degree, all living things, ie.,  plants,
animals and humans, requires nourishment and ability to
reproduce.

The degrees and functions of the soul are nested,

On the sensitive degree, only animals and human have
such that the one has a higher degree of the soul has
all of the lower degree. the ability to move and perceive. 

Following this, humans possess the nutritive, Finally, on the rational degree, only humans are capable
sensitive, and rational degrees of the soul. of theoretical and practical functions.

More importantly, only humans are capable of a life

guided by reason. Because this is so, happiness, too,
is a uniquely human function for it can only be
achieved through a rationally directed life.
HUMANS ANIMALS PLANTS

Eudaimonia: Uniquely
RATIONAL SENSITIVE NUTRITIVE

(rational) (partly rational) (non rational)

Human? Theoretical Locomotion Growth Nutrition
Practical Perception Reproduction
 Eudaimonia is what defines the good life. To live a good life is to
live a happy life. For Aristotle, eudaimonia is only possible by living
a life of virtue.

Arête, a Greek term, is defined as “excellence of any kind” and can

also mean “moral virtue.”

Arête and A virtue is what makes one function well. Aristotle suggested two
Human types of virtue: intellectual virtue and moral virtue.

Happiness Intellectual Virtue or virtue of thought is achieved through

education, time, and experience. Key intellectual virtue are
wisdom, which guides ethical behavior, and understanding, which
is gained from scientific endeavors and contemplation.

Wisdom and understanding are achieve through formal and non-

formal means. Intellectual virtues are acquired through self-taught
knowledge and skills as much as taught and learned in formal
institutions.
 Arête and Human Happiness
Moral Virtue or virtue of character is achieved though habitual practice.

Some key moral virtues are generosity, temperature, and courage.

It is by repeatedly being unselfish that one develops the virtue of

Aristotle explained that although the capacity for
intellectual virtue is innate, it is brought into
completion only by practice.
generosity.
It is by repeatedly resisting and foregoing every inviting opportunity
that one develops the virtue of temperance.
It is by repeatedly exhibiting the proper action and emotional response
in the face of danger that one develops the virtue of courage.

By and large, moral virtue is like a skill.

Everyone is capable of learning how to play guitar because everyone

has an innate capacity for intellectual virtue, but not everyone acquires
A skill is acquired only through repeated practice. it because only those who devote time and practice develop the skills of
playing the instrument.
 If one believes that too
much use of social media is
If one learns that eating too
detrimental to human
much fatty foods is bad for
relationships and
the health, he or she has to
productivity, he or she must
make habit to stay away
regulate his or her use of
from his type of food
social media and
because health contributes
deliberately spend more
to living well and doing
time with friends, and
Arête and well.
family, and work than in
virtual platform.
Human
Happiness If one understands the
enormous damage to the Good relationship dynamics
environment that plastic and a healthy environment
materials bring, he or she contribute one’s wellness,
must repeatedly forego the in how he or she lives and
next plastic item e or she what he or she does.
could do away with.
 Both intellectual virtue and
moral virtue should be in
accordance with reason to
achieve eudaimonia.

A balance between two extremes

Arête and is a requisite of virtue. This

balance is means to excess not in
Indifference with these
virtues, for reasons that are
the sense of geometric or
Human arithmetic average. Instead, it is
mean relative to the person,
only for one’s convenience,
pleasure, or satisfaction, leads
Happiness circumstances, and the right
emotional response in every
humans away from
eudaimonia.
experience (NE 2:2: 2:6).

A virtue is ruined by any

excess and deficiency in how
one lives and acts.
 The virtue of courage is
ruined by an excess of
the needed emotional
and proper action to
address a particular
situation. Arête and
Human
Happiness
Courage was
earlier defined
as displaying the
right action and
emotional
Also, courage is ruined by a
response in the
deficiency of the needed
face of danger. A person who does not
emotion and proper action.
properly assess the
When one over thinks of a
danger and is totally
looming danger, that he or
without fear may
she becomes too fearful
develop the vice of
and incapable of acting on
foolhardiness or
the problem, he or she
rashness.
develops the vice of
cowardice.
 What then is the good of life?

Putting everything in perspective, the good life in the sense of eudaimonia in the state of being happy,
healthy, and prosperous in the way of one thinks, lives, and acts.

The path to the good life consists of the virtues of thought and character, which are relative
mediators between the two extremes of excess and deficiency. In this way, the good life is
understood as happiness brought about by living a virtuous life.

One could draw parallels between moving toward the good life and moving toward further progress
and development in science and technology. In appraising the goodness of the next medical procedure,
the new social media trend, the latest mobile device, or the upcoming technology for food safety, one
must be guided by Aristotle virtues.
 What then is the good of life?

Science and technology can be ruined by under- or over-appreciation of the

scope and function it plays in the pursuit of the uniquely human experience of
happiness.

Refusing science and technology altogether to improve human life is as

problematic as allowing it to entirely dictate reason and action without any
regard for ethical and moral standards.

By imposing on science and technology an ethical standard that is not dictated by

itself, as C. S. Lewis proposed, not only will scientific advancement and
technological development flourish, but also the human person.
Thank You!
Have a
Good Life!