Chapter 6 The Good LIfe

Chapter 6:
The Good Life

Everyone is in pursuit of the good life.
We do certain things because we want to achieve
a life which will make us happy and content. By
studying and working hard, we try to attain this
goal not only for ourselves but also for our loved
ones and the rest of humanity.
People definition of the good life may vary and
differ in the particulars. In general, however, we
recognize universal truths that cut across our
differences.
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1
Nicomachean Ethics and
Modern Concepts
Aristotle
Aristotle, an important ancient
Greek philosopher whose work
spans from natural phiosophy to
logic and political theory, attempted
to explain what good is. His
definition may be useful in our
pursuit of the truth.
4
“
All human activities aim at some
good. Every art and human inquiry,
and similarly every action and
pursuit, is thought to aim a some
good; and for this reason the good
has been rightly declared as that at
which all things aim (Nicomachean
Ethics 2:2).
5
Everyone is moving towards the good.
Thus, completing one’s studies, training
for a sport, or taking rest is good. The
good is expressed and manifested in many
various ways for different persons and
circumstances. The good life, however, is
more than these countless expressions for
what is good . It is characterized by
happiness that springs from living and
doing well.
6
…both the many and
the cultivated call it
happiness, and
suppose that living well
and doing well are the
same as being happy
(Nicomachean Ethics
1:4).
7
The ancient Greeks called this concept
of “living well and doing well” as
eudaimonia. The word came from the
Greek word eu meaning “good” and
daimon meaning “spirit”. Taken
together, it generally refers to the good
life, which is marked by happiness and
excellence. It is a flourishing life filled
with meaningful endeavors that
empower the human person to be the
best version of himself/herself.
8
According to Aristotle, happiness is
the ultimate end of human action. It is
that which people pursue for its own
sake. Financial stability for one’s
family, the power achieved from
winning elections, or the harmony
and peace as a reward for taking
care of the environment– all there
and more are pursued for the sake of
happiness.
9
Now such a thing as happiness above all else, is held to
be; for this we choose always for itself and never for the
sake of something else, but honor, pleasure, reason, and
every virtue we choose indeed for themselves, but we
choose them also for the sake of happiness, judging that
by means of them we shall be happy.
Happiness, on the other hand, no one chooses for

anything other than itself(Nicomachean Ethics 2:7).
10
It is the activities that express virtue that control
happiness, and thethat
It is the activities contrary
expressactivities thatcontrol
virtue that control its
contrary(Nicomachean
happiness, and the contraryEthics 1:10). that control its
activities
contrary(Nicomachean Ethics 1:10).
11
The good life is marked by happiness brought
about by virtuous human actions and decisions that
affect the individual self and the greater
community. It is characterized by a life of
flourishing of oneself and of other. The good life
does not happen in a bubble where only one person
is flourishing; others have to be in it, too.
12
Virtue plays a significant role in the living and
attainment in the good life. It is the constant
practice of the good no matter how difficult
the circumstances may be. Virtue is the
excellence of character that empowers no one
to do and be good. Such virtue is cultivated
with habit and discipline as it is not a one-time
deed, but a constant and consistent series of
actions. Everyone has the capacity within
himself/herself to be good, but she/he also has
to be disciplined to make a habit of exercising
the good.
13
Virtue, then, being of two kinds, intellectual and moral, intellectual virtue in the
main owes its birth and growth to teaching(for which reason it requires
experience and time),while moral virtue comes about a result of
habit(Nicomacheas Ethics 2:1).
14
The onward progress of
science and technology is
also the movement towards
the good life. Science and
technology are one of the
highest expressions of
human faculties. They allow
us to thrive and flourish in
life we so desire it. Science
and technology may also
corrupt a person, but
grounding oneself in virtue
will help him/her steer clear
danger.
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Reading Exercise
Answer the following items.
1. It is that which all things aim.
2. It is an ancient Greek word which means “living well and doing well”.
3. It is said to be the ultimate end of human activities. It is pursued for its
own sake.
4. He is the ancient Greek philosopher knows the Nicomachean Ethics.
5. The good life means that I make sure I improve without necessarily
taking the others consideration. True or false?
6. One does not need to eat healthfully to live a good life. True or false?
7. Excellence of character is innate. It does have to be practiced. True or
false?
8. It is the constant practice of good.
9. For items 9-10, Give Aristotle’s two kinds of virtue.
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Chapter 6:

The Good Life

Happiness, on the other hand, no one chooses for

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