Republic of the Philippines

UNIVERSITY OF NORTHERN PHILIPPINES

Vigan City
COLLEGE OF TEACHER EDUCATION

T he G o o d Life
Meaning
The GOOD LIFE is a term that refers to a (desirable) state that is primarily
characterized by a high standard of living or the adherence to ethical and moral
laws. In its two different expressions, living the good life can be either expressed
through an abundant/luxurious lifestyle full of material belongings or the attempt
to live life in accordance with the ethical, moral, legal and religious laws of one’s
country or culture. As such, the term can both be understood as the quest for wealth,
material possessions or luxuries and the quest to create a worthwhile, honest and
meaningful existence.

The term is also a central concept in the works of Aristotle that are centered around
ethics

Eudaimonia (Greek: εὐδαιμονία [eu̯dai̯moníaː];

- a Greek word literally translating to the state or condition of 'good spirit', and
which is commonly translated as 'happiness' or 'welfare'.

The Good Life -Perceived by Different Schools of Thought

1. Aristotle and Good Life
2. Materialism
3. Hedonism
4. Stoicism
5. Theism
6. Humanism

SUMMARY
1. Aristotle and Good Life
- every human person aspires for an end; this end is happiness or human
flourishing
Atomists in Ancient Greece (Demicritus and Leucippus led a school whose primary
belief is that the world is made up of and is controlled by the tiny indivisible units in
the world called atomos or seeds.
2. Materialism
- the material things we possess give us ultimate happiness.
- materialism is generally considered a negative value, trait or behavior, being
associated with greed, shallowness and lack of spiritual values
- Materialism is typically defined as the valuing of monetary wealth over other
nonmaterial goods (e.g., social relationships, experiences). While psychological
studies show that empty materialism leads to negative feelings, there’s also the
concept of good materialism—an intentional type of consumerism that can make us
feel fulfilled, connected, and happy.
3. Hedonism
- see the end goal of life in acquiring pleasure. Pleasure has always been the
priority.
- Life is obtaining and indulging in pleasure because life is limited; pleasure gives
meaning to their life w/o thinking of the future
MANTRA: “Eat, drink, and be merry for tomorrow we will die”
4. Stoicism
-Stoicism, pleasure is perceived as neither 'good' nor 'bad', but rather something to
view indifferently.
- the endurance of pain or hardship without the display of feelings and without
complaint.
- an ancient Greek school of philosophy founded at Athens by Zeno of Citium.
The school taught that virtue, the highest good, is based on knowledge; the
wise live in harmony with the divine Reason (also identified with Fate and
Providence) that governs nature, and are indifferent to the vicissitudes of
fortune and to pleasure and pain.
- Stoics believed that wealth, status, power, possession and stature are neither good
or bad, and they have no social importance with respect to our relationships with
one another. We are equals. They held that external differences, such as rank and
wealth, are of no importance in social relationships.

the most famous stoic, Roman Emperor, Marcus Aurelius

55. Theism
- belief in the existence of a god or gods, especially belief in one god as creator
of the universe, intervening in it and sustaining a personal relation to his
creatures.
- Theism states that the existence and continuance of the
universe is owed to one supreme Being, who is distinct from Creation. For this
reason, theism proclaims a dualistic relation between God and the world,
wherein God is a being who controls events from outside of the human world.
- Types of theism

● Monotheism (from Greek μόνος) is the belief in theology that only one deity
exists. ...
● Polytheism is the belief that there is more than one God.
Its opposite is atheism, which means not believing in any god or higher
spiritual power.
7. Humanism
- Humanism stresses the importance of human values and dignity. It proposes that
people can resolve problems through science and reason. Rather than looking to
religious traditions, humanism focuses on helping people live well, achieve
personal growth, and make the world a better place.

The main beliefs of humanism

- Humanism focuses on human beings and offers an ethical approach to life, a belief
in people's ability to solve problems, recognizing that much of what happens in our
world is what people cause to happen.
Who founded humanism?
- The humanist movement can be traced back to a trio of Italian authors who lived
before the Renaissance period had even begun: Dante Alighieri (1265-1321 CE),
Petrarch, and Giovanni Boccaccio (1313-1375).

- What is humanism learning theory?

- Humanistic learning theory emphasizes the freedom and autonomy of learners