3. More on Aristotle:
one of the greatest thinkers in the history of western science and
philosophy, making contributions to logic, metaphysics,
mathematics, physics, biology, botany, ethics, politics, agriculture,
medicine, dance and theatre.
first to classify areas of human knowledge into distinct disciplines
such as mathematics, biology, and ethics.
founder of the Lyceum, the first scientific institute, based in
Athens, Greece.
one of the strongest advocates of a liberal arts education, which
stresses the education of the whole person, including one's moral
character, rather than merely learning a set of skills.
4. Nicomachean Ethics 2:2
All human activities
aim at some good.
Every art and
human inquiry, and
similarly every
action and pursuit ,
is thought to aim at
some good; and for
this reason the good
has been rightly
declared as that at
which all things
aim.
5. What is meant by good life?
living in comfort and
luxury with few
problems or worries.
characterized by
happiness from living
and doing well
content
6. What is eudimonia?
came from the Greek word eu meaning
“good” and daimon meaning “spirit”.
refers to the good life marked by happiness
and excellence.
flourishing life filled with meaningful
endeavors that empower the human person to
be the best version of himself/herself.
7. Aristotle’s view of good life
the activity of the soul in accordance with
virtue.
o believed that good for humans is the
maximum realization of what was unique to
humans.
o the good for humans was to reason well.
o The task of reason was to teach humans how
to act virtuously, and the exercise faculties in
accordance with virtue.
8. Virtue/s
behavior showing high moral standards.
"paragons of virtue"
synonyms: goodness, virtuousness, righteousness,
morality, ethicalness, uprightness, upstandingness,
integrity, dignity, rectitude, honesty, honorableness,
honorability, honor, incorruptibility, probity,
propriety, decency, respectability, nobility, nobility of
soul/spirit, nobleness, worthiness, worth, good,
trustworthiness, meritoriousness, irreproachableness,
blamelessness, purity, pureness, lack of corruption,
merit; principles, high principles, ethics
"the simple virtue and integrity of peasant life"
9. Nicomachean Ethics 2:1
Virtue, then, being of two kinds,
intellectual and moral, intellectual virtue in
the main owes its birth and growth in
teaching ( for its reason it requires
experience and time). While moral virtue
comes about as a result of habit
10. The Virtues:
Intellectual virtue
theoretical wisdom
(thinking anf truth)
practical wisdom
understanding.
Experience and time
are necessary
requirements for the
development of
intellectual virtue
Moral virtue
controlled by practical
wisdom (ability to
make right judgment)
owed its development
to how one nurtured it
as habit.
can be learned
11. Happiness to Aristotle
"Happiness depends on ourselves.“
central purpose of human life and a goal in
itself.
depends on the cultivation of virtue.
a genuinely happy life required the fulfillment
of a broad range of conditions, including
physical as well as mental well-being.
12. Happiness as the Ultimate Purpose of
Human Existence
happiness is a final end or goal that
encompasses the totality of one's life.
It is not something that can be gained or
lost in a few hours, like pleasurable
sensations.
It is more like the ultimate value of your life
as lived up to this moment, measuring how
well you have lived up to your full potential
as a human being.
13. Science and Technology and Good
Life
S&T is also the movement towards good life.
S&T are one of the highest expressions of
human faculties.
S&T allow us to thrive and flourish if we desire
it.
S&T may corrupt a person
S&T with virtue can helpan individual to be
out of danger.
14. Why is it that everyone is in the
pursuit of the good life?
15. “Life is good! It is only our thoughts, choices and
actions towards the situations we meet in life each
moment of time that makes life look bad! The same bad
situation in life that makes one person think badly
inspires another to do a noble thing! The same good
situation in life that makes one person feel so good to
get into a bad situation inspires another person to
create another good situation because of the good
situation. It is all about thoughts, choices and actions!
Life is good! Live it well!”
― Ernest Agyemang Yeboah
16. One must find the truth about what
the good is before one can even try to
locate that which is good.
17.
18. Questions for Reflection
1. In your own 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 in science and
technology a movement towards the good
life?
