THE

GOOD LIFE
OBJECTIVE:

At the end of the topic session, the student should be able to:

• Explain the concept of good life as posited by Aristotle;

• Define good life in their own words; and
• Examine shared concerns that make up the good life to come up with innovative and creative
solutions to contemporary issues guided by ethical standard.
WHAT IS A
GOOD LIFE?
• Everyone is in pursuit of the good life.
• We do certain things 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’s definition of the good life may vary and differ in the particulars.
In general, however, we recognize universal truths that cut across our
differences.
NICOMACHEAN
ETHICS AND MODERN
CONCEPTS
• Aristotle, an important ancient
Greek philosopher whose work
spans from natural philosophy to
logic and political theory, attempted
to explain what the good is.
• His definition may be useful in our
pursuit of the truth.
 IN NICOMACHEAN ETHICS, ARISTOTLE STATED:

• All human activities aim • Everyone is moving towards the good.

some good. Every art and • completing one’s studies.

human inquiry, and • Training for sport

similarly every action and • taking a rest is a good.

pursuit, is thought to aim • The good is expressed and manifested in many

various ways for different persons and
at some good; and for this circumstances.
reason the good has been
• The good life, however, is more than these countless
rightly declared as that at expressions of what is good.
which all things aim • It is characterized by happiness that springs from
(Nicomachean Ethics 2:2). living and doing well.
IN NICOMACHEAN ETHICS, ARISTOTLE STATED:

… both the many

• The ancient Greeks called this concept of “living
and cultivated call it well and doing well” as eudaimonia.
happiness and • The word came from the Greek word eu meaning
suppose living well “good and daimon meaning “spirit.” Taken together,
and doing well are it generally refers to good life, which is marked by
happiness and excellence.
the same as being
• It is a flourishing life filled with meaningful
happy endeavors that empower the human person to be
(Nicomachean the best version of himself/herself.
Ethics 1:4).
FOR EXAMPLE:
• If one is an athlete, then he/she
strives to be the best version of an
athlete by training hard as well as
joining and winning in sports
competition.

• If one is a student, then he/she

acts to be the best version of a
student by studying well and
fulfilling the demands of the
school.
IN NICOMACHEAN ETHICS,

• Furthermore, 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 the elections
• the harmony and peace achieved as a reward for taking care of the
environment
• all these and more are pursued for the sake of the happiness.
IN NICOMACHEAN ETHICS, ARISTOTLE STATED:

• Now such a thing as happiness above all • Happiness defines a good

else, is held to be; fort this we choose life.
always for itself and never for the sake of
something else, but honor, pleasure, reason, • This happiness, however, is
and every virtue we choose indeed for not the kind that comes from
themselves, but we choose them also for sensate pleasures.
the sake of happiness, judging that by
means of them we shall be happy. • It is that which come from
Happiness, on the other hand, no one living of virtue, a life of
choose for anything other than itself excellence, manifested from
(Nicomachean Ethics 2:7). the personal to global scale.
VIRTUE
 IN NICOMACHEAN ETHICS, ARISTOTLE STATED:
• For example, making sure that one avoids sugary and processed
food to keep healthy is an activity that expresses virtue. The
resulting health adds to one’s well-being and happiness.
• Another example is taking care of the environment through
• It is the activities that proper waste management which results in a clean
express virtue that environment and adds to people’s well-being and happiness.
control happiness, and • These virtuous actions require discipline and practice.
the contrary activities • On the other hand, activities contrary to virtue are those which
that control its contrary do not result happiness.

(Nicomachean Ethics • The lack of discipline in eating healthful food eventually makes
one sick.
1:10).
• The lack of concern for the environment destroys the Earth we
live in. Thus, disregard for virtuous actions, especially fort the
sake of convenience and gratification, does not contribute to
happiness.
IN NICOMACHEAN ETHICS

• 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 others.
• The good life does not happen in a
bubble where only one person is
flourishing; others have to be in it,
too.
IN NICOMACHEAN ETHICS, ARISTOTLE STATED:

• Virtue plays a significant role in the living and attainment

Virtue, then, being of two of the good life.
kinds, intellectual and moral, • It is the constant practice of the good no matter how
intellectual virtue in the main difficult the circumstances may be.
owes its birth and growth to • Virtue is the excellence of character that empowers one
teaching (for which reason it to do and be good.
requires experience and • Such virtue is cultivated with habit and discipline as it is
time), while the moral virtues not a one-time deed, but a constant and consistent series
comes about as a result of of actions.
habit (Nicomachean Ethics • Everyone has the capacity within himself/herself to be
2:1). good, but he/she also has to be disciplined to make a
habit of exercising the good.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
AND
GOOD LIFE
• 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 if we so desire it.
• Science and technology may also corrupt a person, but grounding
oneself in virtue will help him/her steer clear of danger.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
AND
GOOD LIFE
ACTIVITY 1.

Answer the following questions as brief as possible. See your google

classroom.

1. In your own opinion, what constitutes a good life?

2. What does Aristotle say about good life? Does it still stand in the
modern world?
3. Can science and technology lead us to a good life?
REFERENCE:
• McNamara, D. J., Valverde, V. M., & Beleno, R. (2018). Science, technology, and Society. C & E Publishing
House. Quezon City.