The Good Life 1. Aristotle

The Good Life
1. Aristotle
 ancient Greek philosopher
 known for his natural philosophy, logic and political theory
 one of the greatest thinkers in the history of western science and
 philosophy, making contributions to logic, metaphysics,
 mathematics, physics, biology, botany, ethics, politics, agriculture, medicine, dance and theatre.
 first to classify areas of human knowledge into distinct disciplines such as mathematics, biology,
and ethics.
 founder of the Lyceum, the first scientific institute, based in Athens, Greece.
 one of the strongest advocates of a liberal arts education, which stresses the education of the
whole person, including one's moral character, rather than merely learning a set of skills.
2. Nicomachean Ethics 2:2

 All human activities aim at some good. Every art and human inquiry, and similarly every action and
pursuit, is thought to aim at some good; and for this reason the good has been rightly declared as
that at which all things aim.
What is meant by good life?

 living in comfort and luxury with few problems or worries.
 characterized by happiness from living and doing well
 Content
What is eudaimonia?
 came from the Greek word eu meaning “good” and daimon meaning “spirit”.
 refers to the good life marked by happiness and excellence.
 flourishing life filled with meaningful endeavors that empower the human person to be the best
version of himself/herself.
Aristotle’s view of good life

 the activity of the soul in accordance with virtue.
 believed that good for humans is the maximum realization of what was unique to humans.
 the good for humans was to reason well.
 The task of reason was to teach humans how to act virtuously, and the exercise faculties in
accordance with virtue.
Virtue/s
 behavior showing high moral standards.
 "paragons of virtue"
 synonyms: goodness, virtuousness, righteousness, morality, ethicalness, uprightness,
upstandingness, integrity, dignity, rectitude, honesty, honorableness, honorability, honor,
incorruptibility, probity, propriety, decency, respectability, nobility, nobility of soul/spirit,
nobleness, worthiness, worth, good, trustworthiness, meritoriousness, irreproachableness,
blamelessness, purity, pureness, lack of corruption, merit; principles, high principles, ethics "the
simple virtue and integrity of peasant life"
Nicomachean Ethics 2:1

Virtue, then, being of two kinds, intellectual and moral, intellectual virtue in the main owes its birth and
growth in teaching ( for its reason it requires experience and time). While moral virtue comes about as a
result of habit
The virtues
Intellectual Virtue Moral Virtue
 theoretical wisdom (thinking and truth)  controlled by practical wisdom (ability to
 practical wisdom make right judgment)
 Understanding experience and time are  owed its development to how one nurtured
necessary requirements for the it as habit.
development of intellectual virtue  can be learned
Happiness to Aristotle
 "Happiness depends on ourselves.“
 central purpose of human life and a goal in itself.
 depends on the cultivation of virtue.
 a genuinely happy life required the fulfillment of a broad range of conditions, including physical as
well as mental well-being.
Happiness as the Ultimate Purpose of Human Existence

 happiness is a final end or goal that encompasses the totality of one's life.
 It is not something that can be gained or lost in a few hours, like pleasurable sensations.
 It is more like the ultimate value of your life as lived up to this moment, measuring how well you
have lived up to your full potential as a human being.
Science and Technology and Good Life

 S&T is also the movement towards good life.
 S&T are one of the highest expressions of human faculties.
 S&T allow us to thrive and flourish if we desire it.
 S&T may corrupt a person
 S&T with virtue can help an individual to be out of danger.
Why is it that everyone is in the pursuit of the good life?

 “Life is good! It is only our thoughts, choices and actions towards the situations we meet in life
each moment of time that makes life look bad! The same bad situation in life that makes one
person think badly inspires another to do a noble thing! The same good situation in life that makes
one person feel so good to get into a bad situation inspires another person to create another good
situation because of the good situation. It is all about thoughts, choices and actions! Life is good!
Live it well!” -Ernest Agyemang Yeboah
 One must find the truth about what the good is before one can even try to locate that which is
good.
“If you want good things to happen in your life you have to believe good things are possible. Quit allowing
negative and cynical thinking to get in the way of the good life you deserve” - Bryant Mcgill
The Good Life Part 1 and 2
What is the good life as perceived by different schools of thought?

 Aristotle and Good Life
 Materialism
 Hedonism
 Stoicism
 Theism
 Humanism
1. Aristotle and good Life

 It is interesting to note that the first philosopher who approached the problem of reality from
scientific lens is Aristotle who is also the first thinker who dabbled into the complex
problematization of the end goal of life: happiness
 Compared to his predecessor and teacher, Plato, Aristotle embarked on different approach in
figuring out reality, Plato thought that things in this world are not real and are only copies of the
real in the worlds of forms. While Aristotle puts everything back to the ground in claiming that
this world is all there and that this world is the only reality we can all access.
 Aristotle also forwarded the idea that there is no reality over and above what the senses can
perceive. As such, it is only by observation of the external world that can truly understand what
reality is all about.
 Change is a process that is inherent in things. We, along with all other entities in the world start as
potentialities and move towards actualities. The movement, of course, entails change
 Look at the plant in the picture. It eventually germinates and grows into a plant. The seed that
turned to become the plant underwent change from the potential plant, that is, the see to its full
actuality
 This can be likened to what Aristotle says that every human person aspires for an end. This end is
happiness or human flourishing
 And no one resists happiness because we all want to be happy
2. Materialism
 The first materialists were the atomists in Ancient Greece. Democritus and Leucippus led a school
whose primary belied is that the world is made up of and is controlled by the tiny indivisible units
in the world called atomos or seeds.
 Accordingly, the world including human beings, is made up of matter and there is no need to
possess immaterial entities as sources of purpose. Atoms simply comes together randomly to
form the things in the world. As such, only material entities matter.
 In terms of human flourishing, matter is what makes us attain happiness. The material things we
possess give us ultimate happiness
 We see this work with most people who are clinging on to material wealth as the primary source
of meaning of their existence
3. Hedonism
 The Hedonists see the end goal of life in acquiring pleasure.
 Pleasure has always been the priority of hedonists. For them, life is obtaining and indulging in
pleasure because life is limited. They believe that pleasure give meaning of their life without
thinking of the future. The mantra of this school of thought is the famous:
 “Eat, drink, and merry for tomorrow we will die”
4. Stoicism
 Another school of thought led by Epicurus, the stoics, exposed the idea that to generate
happiness, one must learn to distance oneself and be apathetic
 The original term apatheia, precisely means to be indifferent. This group believe that they can do
things at their own and believe happiness can only be attained by careful practice of apathy
5. Theism
 Most people find the meaning of their lives using God as the fulcrum of their existence.
 The Philippines, as a predominant Catholic country, is witness to ho people base their life goals on
beliefs that hinged on some for of supernatural reality called heaven
 The ultimate basis of happiness for theists is the communion with God
6. Humanism
 Humanism is another school of though 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. They see themselves not merely as
stewards of the creation but as individuals who are in control of themselves and the world outside
them.
 As a result of the motivation of the humanists, scientists eventually turned to technology in order
to ease the difficulties of life.
 Scientists of today, meanwhile, are ready to confront more sophisticated attempts at altering the
world for the benefit of humanity.
 Some people now are willing to tamper with time and space in the name of technology

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What are the different views on the good life according to Aristotle?

What are some of the major schools of thought on the concept of happiness?

The Good Life

2. Nicomachean Ethics 2:2

What is meant by good life?

Aristotle’s view of good life

Nicomachean Ethics 2:1

Happiness as the Ultimate Purpose of Human Existence

Science and Technology and Good Life

Why is it that everyone is in the pursuit of the good life?

What is the good life as perceived by different schools of thought?

1. Aristotle and good Life

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