The Good Life

“Happiness depends on ourselves” – Aristotle

Learning Outcomes
At the end of lesson learner should be able to:

• Examine what is meant by a good life

• Identify how humans attempt to attain what is deemed to be good
life
• Recognize possibilities available to human being to attain the good
life
What is good life?
According to Westacott (2018)there are three ways by which we can
understand what is meant by “a good life or “living well’. These are the
Moral Life , Life of Pleasure and fulfilled life

According to Aristotle, good life is one in which person cultivates and

exercises their rational faculties.
MORAL LIFE
• One basic way we use the word "good" is to express moral approval.
• When we say someone is living well or that they have lived a good life, we may simply mean
that they are a good person.
• Socrates and Plato both gave absolute priority to being a virtuous person over all other
supposedly good things such as pleasure, wealth, or power.
• Many religions also conceive of the good life in moral terms as a life lived according to God's
laws.
• A person who lives this way-obeying the commandments and performing the proper rituals-
is pious.
• “Goodlife“–moral approval They are good person, courageous, honest, trustworthy, kind,
selfless, generous, helpful, loyal.
THE LIFE OF PLEASURE
• Greek philosopher Epicurus-pleasure is enjoyable, its fun; is what makes life worth living.
• For Epicurus, the most pleasant life is one where we abstain from unnecessary desires and
achieve an inner tranquility (ataraxia) by being content with simple things, and by choosing
the pleasure of philosophical conversation with friends over the pursuit of physical pleasures
like food, drink, and sex.
• Hedonism. People who are devoted to sex, food, drink and sensual indulgence .Dominant in
western culture. Living the good life-enjoying lots of recreational pleasures, good food,
Goodwine, scuba diving, etc. subjective experiences. A person is happy when they feel good
and have many “feel good experiences“ Epicure–someone who is appreciative of food and
drink.
THE FULLFILED LIFE
THE FULFILLED LIFE BY ARISTOTLE
• Virtue-morally virtuous
• Health-enjoy good health and reasonably long life.
• Prosperity–comfortably off (Aristotle-affluent enough so that they don’t need to work for a
living doing something that they would not freely choose to do)
• Friendship-good friends; innately social
• Respect- They should enjoy the respect of others.
• Luck -Need good luck, common sense
• Engagement -Exercise their unique human abilities and capacities
THE MEANINGFUL LIFE

Well, being of Family especially children and grandchildren.

Pursuing a particular kind of work with great dedication(scientific
research, artistic creation, scholarship).
Devote themselves to cause–protecting environment
Immersion or engagement in a community, church and school.
FINISH LIFE
Call no man happy until he’s long dead because after death that is
the only time that you will know how he live.
Example: Jimmy Saville who was much admired but a serial sexual
predator.
A good life is one that is enviable and admirable. GOOD MORAL
LEAD US TO THE GOOD ANDHAPPYLIFE.
• Materialism Leucippus & Democritus Comfort, pleasure and wealth are the only highest goals.
• Hedonism Epicurus Life is limited, one must indulge itself with pleasures-Eat drink and be merry
for tomorrow we die.
• Stoicism Zeno of Citium Marcus Aurelius Virtue is happiness and judgement should be based
act so behavior rather than words; practical application.
• Theism Ultimate happiness is communion with God, Find the meaning of their lives by using
God as the creator of their existence Monotheism & polytheism
• Humanism International Humanist and Ethical Union Human beings have the right and
responsibility to give meaning and shape their own lives-steward creation but as individuals who
have control for themselves as well as the world outside them
What is the ultimate goal of a good life
• The ultimate goal of a good life Aristotle was the originator of the concept of eudaimonia
(from daimon–true nature). He deemed happiness to be a vulgar idea, stressing that not all
desires are worth pursuing as, even though some of them may yield pleasure, they would not
produce wellness. Aristotle thought that true happiness is found by leading a virtuous life
and doing what is worth doing. He argued that realizing human potential is the ultimate
human goal”(Boniwell 2008).
• Boniwell (2008) emphasized that feeling good is not enough for a good life. Each person must
realize his/her potentialities which would lead him/her to the greatest fulfilment–Daimon
The role of technology in achieving good life.
• The role of technology in achieving good life. According to Vergragt (2006), in his essay
about how technology could contribute to a sustainable world, technology will support and
enhance a “good life” for all citizens without compromising the earth’s ecosystem or the
prospects of later generations.
• Stutz (2006) stated, a good life requires essential basic human needs are met and aspirations
for freedom, belonging and self-realization are fulfilled as much as possible. Vergragt also
noted that technological innovation in the context of the good life and how it can be
supported or threatened, depending on the way technological innovations are influenced and
steered by human decisions and institutions.