What Constitutes the "Good Life?"

Discussion Question: Philosophers on Ethics

Ethics is a heavily debated topic. In Western culture there have been many different philosophers espousing their ideas on the subject. What are the ideal components of the “Good Life,” and what are the natural principles guiding human behavior?

The foundational schools of thought of Western ethics lie in Ancient Greece. Almost all of the more recent theories on ethics draw on these critical philosophers. Plato was one of the earliest still on record, falling between 427 and 347 B.C. He believed that concrete things were representative of abstract ideals, and the world revolved around lofty ideals of virtue such as “truth, beauty and goodness,” with Justice being, in his consideration, the primary and foremost virtue (Alexander). Therefore an ideal person would contain these ideal virtues in relation to their mind, the source of wisdom, spirit the source of courage, and appetite, which represents what has to be held in check, respectively, which produces the virtue of temperance (Alexander).

Plato’s student, Aristotle, also had many ideas of what constitutes the “Good Life.” He deemed it the “golden mean” to live in moderation. In contrast to Plato, Aristotle saw “goodness” as stemming from people fulfilling their natural function, producing intrinsic values based on instrumental values (Alexander). To him the “major practical problem in seeking the Good Life is to find the proper rational balance in life,” between excess and virtue, and the achievement of happiness is our fulfillment (Alexander).

In deep contrast to Aristotle’s desire for a measured temperate life and Plato’s desire for lofty virtues, Aristippus, the founder of hedonism, believed that the “Good Life” could only be found in satiating all of our desires and the maximization of earthly pleasure. This theory of ethics proposes that people should go after what they want unbridled as life is too short to avoid getting what you really want. This point of view is controversial as it does not take into account the price that must be paid for excesses, the cost to others and the environment, or the cost to yourself.

Epicurus of Athens theorized that the “Good Life” was a life free from “anguish and disease” (Alexander). In the philosophy of Epicurus and his followers, the Epicureans, some desires such as ones required to survive, should be satiated, while others deemed unnecessary should be avoided, such as eternal desires for unnatural excessive wealth, power, fame and carnality. This is similar in some respects to some Eastern ethical philosophies such as Buddhism where desire considered the origin of emotional suffering, and the “Good Life” is achieved by letting go of such desires. It differs, however because it does not advocate an ideal life of monasticism and deprivation.

Out of the four founding ethical schools of thought, I would agree the most with Epicureanism. Too much deprivation does not lead to much satisfaction in life. It is important to still eat well, sleep enough and take care of yourself, and not turn to extreme measures of "healthiness." I remember from doing ballet, that so many of us would try to eat less and exercise more in an attempt to be better, not just at ballet but as a person. However, this is very unhealthy and puts a huge strain on your body, making you sick instead of well. I've seen too many girls underweight, feeling like they are not good enough, when they should have loved themselves.

Desires for wealth, power and fame can also be destructive and empty. I have seen too many people become incredibly competitive, chasing money on Wall Street or chasing after likes, or stressing themselves out in the pursuit of better grades, to the detriment of their happiness. I am not excluded from that category, as that was the society I lived in. While it is important to set goals for yourself and seek to excel, the pressure to be "the best" is an unrealistic expectation for anyone's everyday, and chasing after external goals will only satisfy you so far in life.

The excessive indulgence in any desire, whether it is something positive or negative, giving in to enjoyment or giving in to misery, is not only destructive to yourself but also to others. A more balanced approach that takes into account what is healthy for you and other people is a much healthier way of living.

Living a life free from “anguish and disease” has been my main goal for much of my life. After pulling myself out of an abusive environment, my measure has been the absence of suffering, the absence of pain, the absence of harassment, the absence of bullying, the absence of racism. It is a very different thing to measure life by the presence of joy, the presence of positive things, the presence of love and happiness, which is what I am moving into now.

Alexander, Andrew. (2010). Philosophizing: Creating a World of Ideas. Dubuque, IA. Kendall Hunt.

#KatrinaBelleBeauty #Orlandoblogger #KatrinaBelle