In our final episode of Crash Course Philosophy, we consider what it means to live a good life. Reference this. Two such philosophers, Plato and Aristotle, deem the good life as the state in which a person exhibits total virtue. Less is more, and possessions are losing their attraction. Birgit, Thank you Birgit you have a way to set people on the right path, Your email address will not be published. You don’t necessarily have to add something new to your life to enjoy the good life. The good life is a life that is not primarily wasted with mundane activities. “. Instead of seeking discipline and mastery over themselves, they prefer to chase wealth, material possessions, status or the fulfillment of desires. This is subsequently referred to as Eudaemonia. MIT Press, Cambridge. But was his life a good life? There is no one right way and you and I alone have the power to create our good lives. The first horse goes in whatever direction it pleases, if not tightly controlled. Gandhiplein 16 Even more so, it might even make it all the more difficult to live the good life. Steve is the founder of Planet of Success, the #1 choice when it comes to motivation, self-growth and empowerment. And God makes it absolutely clear that the good life, the blessed life, is the righteous life in Christ. My belief now is that there is no one-size-fits-all answer. Reply Virtue is comes from the absence of desires, so true happiness means being satisfied to the point one does not have desires. While everyone needs basic needs like safety and financial security, sometimes, what seems “better” does not serve our quest for “the good life.”. We are constantly shown through the television and magazines that being rich and famous is the way to go when it comes to a good life, when in truth many of them are miserable by problems that usually wouldn’t affect the common person. Choice means letting go of alternatives, and happiness means being grateful for being able to choose. Only by using your reason to reign in your passions, the two horses will lead you on the path of the good life. Very early in this work, Aristotle seeks to construct a framework by developing an understanding about the highest good for human beings. Similarly, it’s not enough to reflect on your personal values. According to the Platonic view, humans only see glimpses of the good while existing in the plane of reality. Health. From a basic Greek translation, Eudaemonia is that of supreme life with fulfilment and happiness, identified after one’s death. We hope this article establishes a reference point to establish a few basic practices of meaning-making. Living the good life means to strive for self-mastery, exploration and the improvement of the world around you. Almost all philosophers that pondered about the good life highlighted the importance of civic engagement. In other words, “what is better” is sometimes the enemy of “what is good.” More isn’t always better and sometimes, when we acquire what we thought we needed, we are still ambling for meaning. In fact, they directly associate the good life with money and material belongings. They seek wealth, honor or satisfaction and thereby hope to ultimately attain happiness. But those who allow desires and passions to guide their actions, are most likely not living worthwhile lives. Human beings have an inherent drive and passion for finding absolution in what they deem the ‘good life.’. He recognizes that if one is forced to take action because of others misdeeds, he cannot lead the good life, and therefore each person must be equal to the next so that nobody has to act on account of another (Cooper and Hutchinson, 1997). The “good life,” so it seems, has many different aspects to it. For supreme fulfilment, these actions work in unison with one another (Urmson, 1988). ©2020 Verizon Media. How the chaos in your life builds character, How to Prevent Decision Fatigue From Clouding Your Judgement, 10 Good Habits to Have in Life to Be More Successful, 6 Ways to Make Progress Every Day (And Realize Your Goals), 10 Real Reasons Why Breaking Bad Habits Is So Difficult, How Motor Learning Can Help You Learn Effectively, How to Fight Your Irrational Fears and Stay Strong, 5 Simple Steps to Cultivate a Positive Mental Attitude, The Guided Morning Meditation for Beginners (That Will Change Your Day), The 5 Most Important Things in Life You’ll Regret Not Pursuing, Why Does Life Suck So Bad Sometimes? A good life is a combination of the experience of goodness in different areas. It is egotistical and does not reflect what it does. So when you have a good life, it can be said that you are healthy, happy, pleased, blessed, and have a good reputation. The scheme models different human needs as a pyramid in which each level builds on the last, from physiological needs such as food and water at the bottom to “self-actualization” at the top. Aristotle stated for a good reason that the unexamined life is not worth living. Neither wealth nor social status can grant access to true friendship. For more information on mindfulness check out these TED talks. Secondly, honor might not necessarily contribute to a person’s happiness. Devastated by the hardship and poverty she found in Abidjan, she built an ambulatory with the financial support of her husband. But good life for a child, for a young person or for an old person are not the same philosophy. a good life is a satisfied life. Not every person that is living “the dream” or “the good life” is actually living a good life.