• Everyone is in pursuit of good life.

• People’s definition of the good life may vary and differ in the
particulars.
• But we recognize universal truths that cut across our differences.
• We do certain things because we want to achieve a life which will
make us happy and content.
• In Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle stated : All human activities are done in order to attain
something that is good; everyone is moving towards the “good”.
• Things can be good for their own sake
• Examples are external goods like wealth, food, clothing, shelter; goods of the body like
health, physical strength, vitality, pleasure and goods of the soul like virtue, knowledge,
skill, recreation, friendship, honor
• Hedonistic theory defines good as the presence of pleasure and absence of pain; how he
feels regarding the quality of his experiences; self-interest
• Preference theory said that good is what one wants most for himself like material wealth
over prestige, fame, or good reputation.
• Objective list theory defines good as something that includes some elements that are
independent of personal preferences and consists of “valuable” experiences such as
friendship, accomplishments, etc.
Aristotle teaches that each man's life has a purpose and that
the function of one's life is to attain that purpose.

He explains that the purpose of life is earthly happiness or

flourishing that can be achieved via reason and the
acquisition of virtue.
• Good Life, 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
it is that which comes from living a life of virtue, a life of excellence
it is marked by happiness brought about by virtuous human actions and
decisions that affect the individual self and the greater community; a life
flourishing of oneself and of others
• Virtue is a disposition to behave in the right manner and as a mean between extremes of deficiency and excess; it is a
matter of having the appropriate attitude toward pain and pleasure.
examples : 1. courage is the middle between one extreme of deficiency (cowardness) and the other
extreme of excess (recklessness or rashness); regulates fear and confidence
2. temperance: the virtue between overindulgence and insensitivity.
3. justice: the virtue of dealing fairly with others. It lies between selfishness and
selflessness (unselfishness).
4. shame: the midpoint between being too shy and being shameless.
5. patience: this is the virtue that controls your temper.

6. truthfulness: the virtue of honesty, it is between the vices of habitual lying and being

tactless or boastful.
7. friendliness: This virtue lies between not being friendly at all and being too friendly towards too many
people.
• the individual needs to be naturally “virtuous” person rather than just acting accordingly
• the individual finds pleasure in doing virtuous acts
• According to Aristotle, having virtue means doing the right thing, at the right time, in the
right way, in the right amount, toward the right people.
• If you are a virtuous person, you know what to do all the time, you know how to handle
yourself and how to get along with others.
• You have a good judgment, you know what is right and when.
 Virtue plays a significant role in the living and attainment of the good life.
 It is the constant practice of the good no matter how difficult the circumstances
may be
 It is the excellence of character that empowers one to do and be good
 It is cultivated with habit (good upbringing is essential) and discipline as it is not
a one-time deed, but a constant and consistent series of actions
 Everyone has the capacity within himself to be good, but he also has to be
disciplined to make a habit of exercising the good
 If you just focus on being good people, the right actions will follow effortlessly.
 • Moral Virtues • Intellectual Virtues
 Comes about as a result of habit  can be taught
 it is learned by repetition
 wisdom
 it is acquired, if it is acquired at all, at a very early age
• Courage  theoretical and practical reasons
• Temperance
• Generosity
• Friendship
• contemplation
ACCORDING TO ARISTOTLE, WHAT IS HAPPINESS?
• Happiness is the ultimate end and purpose of human existence.
• Happiness is not pleasure nor it is virtue. It is the exercise of virtue.
• Happiness cannot be achieved until the end of one’s life. Hence it is a good and not a temporary state.
• Happiness is the perfection of human nature. Since man is a rational animal, human happiness depends on
the exercise of his reason.
• Happiness depends on acquiring a moral character, where one displays the virtues of courage, generosity,
justice, friendship and citizenship in one’s life. These virtues involve striking a balance or “mean” between
an excess and a deficiency.
• Happiness requires intellectual contemplation, for this is the ultimate realization of our rational capacities.
• Happiness is doing good things because you derive genuine enjoyment from them and because they’re
consistent with your view of yourself, rather than for external reward.
 Aristotle definition of happiness

…the function of man is to live a certain kind of life, and this activity implies a rational
principle, and the function of a good man is the good and noble performance of these, and if
any action is well performed it is performed in accord with the appropriate excellence: if this is
the case, then happiness turns out to be an activity of the soul in accordance with virtue. (
Nicomachean Ethics, 1098a13)

The Pursuit of Happiness as the Exercise of Virtue

He is happy who lives in accordance with complete virtue and is sufficiently equipped with
external goods, not for some chance period but throughout a complete life. (Nicomachean
Ethics, 1101a10)
Antonia Macaro (2018) provided a criteria that may constitute a
good life based on the writings of Aristotle:
1. Success and material comfort
2. Pleasure
3. Relationships
4. Reason and virtues
5. Character and spirituality
• According to Dr. Ron Jenson’s book entitled “Make a Life Not Just a Living”, there are 5 components of a happy
successful life as perceived by some individuals.

power, prestige, pleasure, position, prosperity

• Success and material wealth are not inherently bad, however, material wealth is not the final good, but only a means
to an end.

• Pleasure is not the ultimate good, but it is good in moderation.

• The best kind of pleasure is derived from being involved in some worthwhile activity.

• Cultivating relationships within different aspects of one’s life contributes to the quality of one’s life.

• Reason is the contemplation of unchangeable truths (theoretically), and it is the capacity to make decisions in the
sphere of what can be changed (practically).

• An individual’s character is the root of his or her inner strength and that cultivation of one’s character and
spirituality are essential elements to a good life.
A STUDY BY ANNE BIRGITTA PESSI (2008) PROVIDES
A NOVEL ARROW MODEL THAT ILLUSTRATES THE
ESSENTIAL STEPS TOWARD A GOOD LIFE.
• 1. relationship
• 2. balance
• 3. health
• 4. secure income
• 5. fulfilling oneself
• 6. values and spirituality
• 7. work and leisure
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AS A MEANS TO ACHIEVE A GOOD
LIFE
• Since science and technology have changed the way we live, work, communicate, and connect
with one another, their progress must be parallel to how humans move toward what is perceived
as a good life.
• Good life is a moral concept, human virtues must constantly be kept in mind.
• The ultimate good is the measure of the value of all human activities.
• The ultimate value of life measures how well one has lived up to his or her full potential as a
human being.
• Technological advancements as a means to achieve good and fulfilled life must equate to
advancements that are anchored in balance and human values.
• Science and technology are taking the right path toward attaining what it really means to live a
“good life”.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives: Be kind
anyway.
If you are successful you will win some false friends and true enemies:
Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and frank people will try to cheat you: Be honest anyway.
What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight: Build
anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous of you: Be happy
anyway.
The good you do today, will often be forgotten by tomorrow: Do good
anyway.
Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough: Give your
best anyway.