Module 6: The Good life
Aristotle argued that as we mature, we act less
aimlessly and more purposefully. We try to
Module Introduction develop a plan for living that unites all our
various purposes. Without a plan for living, we
don’t know what we are trying to do or why
Introduction we’re trying to do it. Moreover, not just any
plan will do—we need the right plan, which is
Living a good life is what everyone aims.
one that aims at the final or ultimate end. But
A life that satisfies and fulfills where there is joy,
what is the final end of human life, the end that
happiness and sense of purpose. Living a good
all of us ought to aim at?
life is living a happy life. It is dependent on how
we make choices. Though everyone had For Aristotle, the final end of human life is to
different views on what makes them happy, one flourish, to live well, to have a good life. All
should consider that they coexist with other actions should aim at this end. Of course, in
human beings. Advancement in Science and order to live at all we need food, clothing, and
Technology could lead to a good life. But we shelter, but living is itself the means to the end
have to be aware that these progress could also of living well. And what is living well a means
bring about disadvantages when misused. to? Aristotle says that living well is the final end
for humans; it is not a means to anything
6.2 Video Presentation Aristotle_on_flourishing
else. Aristotle thinks this is obvious because few
people want to live poorly.
6.4.1 The Good Life But now another question arises: don’t different
people have different ideas about what a good
The Good Life
life is? For some it may consist of accumulating
What does “living a good life” mean to you? wealth; for others, it is having power or being
famous or experiencing pleasure. And if people
construe the good life differently, if they have
People’s definition of the good life may vary different desires, how can there be one right
and differ in the particulars (McNamara, plan for living well? How can there be one final
D.,[Link]. 2018). A good life is when you are able end that we all ought to
to take out time for yourself and enjoy the small seek?[Link]
pleasures of life. A good life is also when 19/aristotle-on-the-good-and-meaningful-life/
everyday teaches you something new,
something that cheers up your soul. Or it can be
when you readily accept criticism and work Is Aristotle’s explanation of good life still
towards improving applicable in the contemporary world?
yourself. ([Link]
living-a-good-life-mean-Does-a-good-life-mean-
getting-enjoyment-or-something-else). The
good life is a term for the life that one would
like to live, or for happiness(McNamara,
D.,[Link]. 2018).
the goods – health, wealth, knowledge, friends,
etc. leading to perfection of human nature and
enrichment of human life ([Link]
of-happiness-org). Therefore, happiness
For Aristotle, happiness is
defines a good life. (McNamara, D., et. al.,
a final end/goal that encompasses the totality
2018).
of one’s life. It is not something that can be
gained/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 6.4.2 Happiness Ranking
how well you have lived up to your full potential Happiness Ranking
as a human being. Further he explained, for as it
is not one fine day that makes a spring, so it is The World Happiness Report 2018 ranks 156
not one day or a short time that makes a man countries by their happiness levels, and 117
blessed and happy (Nicomachean Ethics, countries by the happiness of their immigrants.
1098a18). This is associated with The main focus of this year's report, in addition
Aristotle’s eudaimonia in his Nicomachean to its usual ranking of the levels and changes in
Ethics. Eudaimonia is a term that means happiness around the world, is on migration
happiness and is a central aim of stoic within and between countries. The overall
philosophy(retrieved from lectures during the rankings of country happiness are based on the
second GE 1 training, May 2017) pooled results from Gallup World Poll surveys
from 2015–2017, and show both change and
stability. Four countries have held the top spot
Aristotle in his Nicomachean Ethics in the last four reports: Denmark, Switzerland,
stated that “if… we take the characteristic Norway and now Finland. All the top countries
activity of a human being to be a certain kind of tend to have high values for all six of the key
life; and if we take this kind of life to be activity variables that have been found to support well-
of the soul and actions in accordance with being: income, healthy life expectancy, social
reason… and a characteristic activity to be support, freedom, trust and generosity. Among
accomplished well when it is accomplished in the top countries, differences are small enough
accordance with the appropriate virtue; then if that year-to-year changes in the rankings are to
this is so, human good turns out to be activity of be expected.
the soul in accordance with ([Link]
virtue.” ([Link] s_Report)
secret-happiness/) The diagram below (refer to figure A) shows the
report on the level of happiness of various
countries of the world ranging from 0 (as the
worst possible life) to 10 (as the best possible
life). In what level do you think our country
belong?
Happiness is the Figure A shows
ultimate end of human action (McNamara, D., the worldwide self-reported life satisfaction
et. al., 2018). Happiness is consists in data
achieving, through the course of a lifetime, all
Observe and evaluate the graph (refer to figure
B) on the ranking of happiness. What key
indicators were shown on the graph that are
utilized to explain the level of happiness in every
country? Elaborate your answer. (Recall the
information presented on the lesson 6.2 of this
module specifically on Happiness Index)
The concept of happiness is the
Retrieved from the Lecture during the corner stone of the assumption of positive
2nd Training for new GE Curriculum Core psychology. Happiness is characterized by the
courses, May 8-26, 2017 experience of more frequent positive affect
states than negative ones and one is
progressing toward important life goals (Tkach
Figure B shows the result of Happiness ranking & Lyubomirsky,2006). Certain kinds of
environmental factors or condition have been
found to be associated with happiness and it
include the following: individual income, labour
market status, health, family, social
relationships, moral values and many others
(Carr, 2004; Selim,2008; Diener, Oishi & Lucas,
2003).
Trivia:
Source: [Link]
desa/dspd/international-days/international-
[Link]#:~:text=The%20General
%20Assembly%20of%20the,importance%20of
%20their
Source: [Link] International day happiness is celebrated
q=self+reported+world+happiness+day+2019+ every March 20 of each year to recognize the
+images&tbm=isch&ved=2ahUKEwjyhoqV8u_p importance of happiness in the lives of people
AhVqwIsBHZVMBwcQ2- around the world.
cCegQIABAA&oq=self+report
6.4.3 Perspective of Happiness
6.4.4 Virtue and Good Life
How does virtue relate to happiness?
In the pursuit of understanding happiness,
there were two main theoretical perspectives
focusing on what makes people feel good and Virtue plays a significant role in living and
happy, these are eudaimonia and attainment of the good life (McNamara, D.J.,
hedonia. Hedonic wellbeing is based on the [Link].,2018). There are two kinds of
notion of subjective wellbeing that increased virtue: intellectual and moral. Intellectual
pleasure and decreased pain leads to virtues are habits of thinking like understanding
happiness. It comprises of an affective the nature of things, judging the truth of
component (high positive affect and low matters, reasoning from a truth known from the
negative affect) and cognitive component truth that is not known. While moral virtues
(satisfaction with life)(Carruthers & Hood, come about as a result of habit (McNamara,
2004). Eudaimonic wellbeing is reliant on D.J., [Link]., 2018). It is a disposition to behave in
Maslow’s ideas of self -actualization and based the right manner and it learned through habit
on subjective wellbeing. It emphasizes that and practice rather than reasoning and
people feel happy if they experience life instruction ([Link]
purpose, challenges and growth. This adopts otle). The virtues that must be practice to
self-determination theory which suggests that achieve happiness (Aristotle) are: intelligence
happiness is related to fulfilment in the areas of and scientific knowledge; practical wisdom ( the
autonomy and competence. ability to deliberate well about what is good and
expedient for oneself); temperance(restraint,
usually with regard to pleasurable
activities); generosity and
friendship; courage(the tendency to act in order
to achieve some good even when facing the risk
of physical harm) and contemplation(reflection
on eternal truths). Both hedonic and
eudaimonic approaches view happiness in
terms of the pleasant life, the good life and the
meaningful life (Norrish & Vella-Brodick, 2008).
How does one achieve happiness based on According to positive psychology, the
positive psychology view? three pathways to happiness are
pleasure, engagement and meaning.
According to positive psychology , there are
three pathways to happiness:
1. pleasure - the process of maximizing
positive emotion and minimizing
negative emotion – this is referred to as
pleasant life. It involves enjoyable and
positive experiences.
2. engagement – the process of being
immersed and absorbed in the task at
hand and is referred to as good life . It
result from individual cultivating and
investing strength and virtues into
relationships, work and leisure
(Seligman. 2002). By applying the best
of self during challenging activities
results to growth and feeling of
competence and satisfaction thus
bringing about happiness.
3. meaning – the process of having a
higher purpose in life than ourselves -
referred to as meaningful life. It
involves the use of strengths and
personal qualities to this higher
purpose. The combination of these
three elements suggests that it would
contribute to authentic and stable
happiness (Vella-Brodick, Park &
Peterson, 2009; Carruthers & Hood.
2004)
Key points
Happiness defines good life.
Happiness is the ultimate end of human
action.
Virtue play a significant role in the living
and attainment of good life.