GEC 7 : SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY

Module 7: The Good Life

Overview

Everyone is in pursuit of the good life. We do certain things because we want to achieve a life which make us
happy and content. By studying and working hard, we try to attain this goal no only for ourselves but also for our
loved ones and the rest of humanity. Good life may vary and differ in the particular, however, we recognize
universal truths that cut across differences.

Modules Contents

THE GOOD LIFE

 Aristotle suggested that the good life includes both happiness and engagement (Hestir, 2008), where
happiness is defined as an activity of authentically expressing one’s excellences or virtues (Sutton, 2020).
 Aristotle studies in living the Good Life (nothing to do with looking seductive in dungarees and willies)
included advice like, moderation in all things.
 Spice for the Good Life is any good human life should include opportunities to make use of and develop
our capacities to think, to deliberate and to reason.

NICOMACHEAN ETHICS AND MODERN CONCEPTS

 Good life is the happy life or the contemplative life – the life of reason. Thus, Aristotle develops in the
Nicomachean Ethics or Theory of what is the good life for human beings. The good life is, for a human
being to live in the way that is most suitable for a human that is according to reason.

 Three concepts of good life, in the philosophy of Aristotle

1. The Good Life: Aristotle
2. The Good Life: Plato.
3. Aristotle and Virtue Theory

ARISTOTLE ON THE GOOD LIFE

 Aristotle was a Greek philosopher, a student of Plato, and a teacher of Alexander the Great. He wrote
on: physics, metaphysics, poetry, theater, music, logic, linguistics, politics, biology, ethics, and zoology.
His thought of multiple fields was consumed definite for millennia, and his work in ethics and politics is
still widely influenced today. He is one of the greatest thinkers in the history of western philosophy.

 Aristotle views on living well begins with consideration of ends and means. Suppose I went a car – the
car is my end or goal. The means I choose depends on which is easier, quicker, likelier to succeed.
Thinking about the goal we are aiming at, and the means we will employ to reach that goal is practical
thinking. Purposeful action contrasts with aimless or thoughtless action , which is action, which is action
with no end in view.

 He further said that without a plan for living, we don’t know what we are trying to do or why we’re
trying to do it. We need the right plan, which is one that aims at the final or ultimate end. What is the
final end of human life, the end that all of us ought to aim at.

 For Aristotle, The final end of human life is to flourish, to live well, to have a good life. He states that
the good life consists in the possession, over the course of a lifetime, of all those things that are really
good for us.
 According to Aristotle, they are:

1. Bodily goods - healthy, vitality, vigor, and pleasure

2. External goods – food, drink, shelter, clothing, sleep
3. Goods of the soul – knowledge, skill, love, friendship, aesthetic enjoyment, self-esteem, and
honor.

 The first two goods are limited goods - we can have more of them we need. Goods of the soul – are
unlimited goods – we cannot have more of them we need. But surely knowledge of the good life isn’t
sufficient to actually living a good life. For example, that drinking alcohol is bad to me but do it any way.

 Aristotle argued that the way to bridge the gap between knowledge of the good life and actually living it
was through the development of a good moral character. And this entails developing good habits. A
good habits allow us perform certain actions without effort. We can have a good habit of playing the
 piano, studying hard, or thinking well. We can also habitually make good choices to avoid overeating or
drinking too much for example.

 In summary, the end, good, purpose ( or meaning ) of human life is live well. We do thinking
accumulating, over the course of our lives, all the real goods that corresponds to our natural needs, and
we increase our chances of having good lives by cultivating good habits, and in addition, We also need
good luck.

 The onward progress of science and technology is also the movement towards the good life. Science
and technology are one of the highest expressions of human faculties. They allow us to thrive and
flourish in life if we so desire it. Science and technology may also corrupt a person, but grounding
oneself in virtue will help him/her steer clear of danger.

Self-Evaluation

Answer the following items.

_______________________1. It is that which all things aim.

_______________________2. It is an ancient Greek word which means living.
_______________________3. It is said to be the ultimate end of human action.
_______________________4. He is the ancient Greek philosopher known for Nicomachean Ethics.
_______________________5. The good life means that I make sure I improve without necessarily taking the
others into consideration. True or False?
_______________________6. Excellence of character is innate. It does not have to be practiced. True or False?
_______________________7. One does not need to eat healthfully to live the good life. True or False?

Questions for reflection

1. In your opinion, what constitutes a good life?

2. What does Aristotle say about the good life? Does it still stand in the contemporary world?
3. How is the progress of science and technology a movement towards the good life?

References

McNamara, DJ., Valverde, V.M., and Beleno, R. III. (2018). Science, Technology and Society,
Philippines. C & E Publishing House, Inc.
Video Clips/Slides. The Magician’s Twin: CS Lewis and the Case Against Scientism.