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Study Guide in GE 6: Science, Technology, and Society Module No. 7
STUDY GUIDE FOR MODULE NO. 7
THE GOOD LIFE
MODULE OVERVIEW
One of the oldest philosophical questions is, “What is the good life?” It may be stated in different
ways, like: “How should I live?”; “Am I living well?”; and “Do I have a good life?”, but these actually mean the
same question. At any rate, everyone wants to live well, everyone is in pursuit of a good life, and no person
wants a bad life.
These questions are not as simple as they sound. The definition of good life may vary and is
expressed in diverse ways for different people and different circumstances. For this module, we will be
concerned with the philosophy of Aristotle, using his work Nicomachean Ethics, in explaining what a good life
is.
MODULE LEARNING OBJECTIVES
At the end of this Module, you should be able to:
1. Discuss Aristotle’s concept of a Good Life
2. Examine shared concerns that make up the good life in order to come up with innovative, creative
solutions to contemporary issues guided by ethical standards
ARISTOTLE AND HIS PHILOSOPHY
Aristotle, who lived from 384 to 322 BC, is probably the most important ancient Greek philosopher
and scientist. He was a student of Plato, who was then a student of Socrates. Together, they were considered
the 'Big Three of Greek Philosophy.' Aristotle was the teacher of Alexander the Great.
Aristotle’s background in biological subjects made him more of an empiricist (truth discovered
primarily by the senses) as compared to the mathematician Plato’s rationalism (truth discovered primarily by
reason.) Aristotle attended Plato’s academy but founded his own school, the Lyceum, later in his life.
Aristotle wrote on an amazing range of topics including logic, metaphysics, physics, epistemology,
astronomy, meteorology, biology, psychology, ethics, politics, law, and poetics.
We can say that Aristotle influenced more subjects for a longer period of time than any thinker in the
history. His scientific ideas were orthodoxy for 2000 years, his logic is still used, and his influence in many
areas of philosophy is still felt. His thought in multiple fields was considered definitive for millennia, and his
work in ethics and politics is still widely influential today. He is one of the greatest thinkers in the history of
western philosophy.
To learn more about about Aristotle and his different views, watch this YouTube video through this
link link (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=csIW4W_DYX4). This will also introduce you to his philosophy of
what constitutes a good life.
NICOMACHEAN ETHICS AND THE GOOD LIFE
According to Quinto, et al. (2019), to determine whether we are living a good life or not, we should first
reflect on two questions: “what standard could be used to define the good life?” and “how can the standard
serve as a guide toward living the good life in the midst of scientific progress and technological
advancement?” To gain insight for the answers to these questions, you may watch this YouTube video in this
link (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPeyJvXU68k).
In the video, it is said that “science must be guided by some ethical basis that is not dictated by science
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Study Guide in GE 6: Science, Technology, and Society Module No. 7
itself.” The work of Aristotle entitled Nicomachean Ethics may be one of these ethical bases.
Aristotle’s work contains two works that mainly concern ethics: the Nicomachean Ethics (which may
refer to one of his sons named Nicomachus) and the Eudemian Ethics (which may refer to one of his friends,
Eudemus of Rhodes). Some of the Books in the Eudemian Ethics are identical to that of the Nicomachean
Ethics, and it was thought Eudemian Ethics was written first before Nicomachean Ethics. Nicomachean
Ethics, however, is the more popular of these two Aristotelian works.
The Nichomachean Ethics (abbreviated as NE or sometimes EN), is a work that deals with “the nature
of moral life and human happiness based on the unique essence of human nature”. It is concerned with the
"end of the things we pursue in our actions," what he calls the "best good" for a human being (NE I.2.1094a).
These work containing ten books were originally lecture notes that he taught at the Lyceum. The
outline of the said book is as follows:
NE I.1095a-I.1096a. The best good
NE I.1097b-I.1098a. The argument from function
NE I.1102a-II.1109b. Virtue and the soul
NE III.1109b-1115a. Necessary conditions for virtue
NE III.1115a-IV.1128b. Virtues of character
NE V.1129a-1138b. Justice
NE VI.1138b-1145a. Virtues of thought
NE VII.1145a-1154b. Continence, pleasure
NE VIII.1155a-IX.1172a. Friendship
NE X.1172a-1181b. Pleasure, happiness, legislation
To read Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics, you may open this link:
http://classics.mit.edu/Aristotle/nicomachaen.html. In the course of this module, you will be repeatedly
referred to this text.
THE CONCEPT OF EUDAIMONIA
Everyone has their own concept of what characterizes what “good” is. Ancient Greeks believed that
good can be intrinsic (something which is valued for themselves and not for something else) and instrumental
(something which is valued for something else and not for themselves). In the Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle
discussed his concept of what good is, what a good life is, and how to attain it. This concept of eudaimonia
(from the Greek eu meaning good and daimon meaning spirit), which can be translated as the good life, is the
subject of Book 1 of Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics.
To understand the concept of eudaimonia in Aristotle’s work, please read Book 1 of Nicomachean
Ethics. In reading the said book, take note of the following:
a. What good means
b. What happiness means
c. What a good person is
d. What a good life is
e. The difference between humans and other living things
f. The ultimate purpose of human existence
ATTAINING EUDAIMONIA
Now that you have learned the concept of what a good life is, we should now consider how to attain it.
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 habit
allows us to perform certain actions without effort.
Aristotle calls good habits virtues or excellences. Humans have both excellences of intellect
(theoretical and practical reason), a.k.a. intellectual virtue or virtue of thought, and excellences of character,
a.k.a moral virtue or virtue of character.
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To understand the concept of virtues and excellences, please read Book 2 of Nicomachean Ethics. In
reading the said book, take note of the following:
a. What virtue and vice means
b. The types of virtues and their characteristics
c. Whether there are naturally virtuous persons
d. How one can live a life of virtue
LEARNING ACTIVITY 1
Reflection
Now that you have learned what a good life is and how to achieve it according to Aristotle, we can now
ask now relate how these ideas relate to progress and science and technology. To do so, write a Reflection
Paper and make sure to answer the following questions:
1. What is a good life? Does your idea of good, happiness, a good person, and a good life the same as
Aristotle’s idea of these? Why or why not?
2. How do you plan to achieve a good life?
3. What practical advice did you learn from Aristotle on how to live a virtuous life?
4. How is moving towards a good life the same as moving towards progress in science and technology?
5. Does science and technology advancement always lead to a good life? Why or why not? Cite
examples to illustrate your point.
All of your reflection tasks will use the following criteria for grading:
4 3 2 1
Depth of Content Demonstrates a Demonstrates a Demonstrates a Lacks
comprehensive comprehensive basic understanding of
understanding of understanding of understanding of the subject for
the subject for the subject for the subject for reflection.
reflection and work reflection. reflection.
can be used as an
example for others.
Originality and Work is insightful Work is insightful Work shows some Work is not
Insight and shows a high and shows insight and some original.
degree of imagination. degree of
imagination. imagination.
Style and Clarity Ideas are clearly Ideas are clearly Ideas show some Ideas are not
articulated and well articulated and well degree of clarity communicated
developed. developed. but are not well clearly nor are they
developed. well developed.
Organization and Writing is well- Writing is well- Writing has some Writing is
Grammar organized with no organized with few degree of unorganized and
spelling and spelling and organization with contains many
grammatical errors. grammatical errors. some spelling and spelling and
grammatical errors. grammatical errors.
Timeliness Completed work Completed work Completed work Completed work
was passed earlier was passed on the was passed the was passed more
than the deadline deadline given. day after the than a day after the
given. deadline given. deadline given.
SUMMARY
The following learning points summarize what you have learned in this section:
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Study Guide in GE 6: Science, Technology, and Society Module No. 7
According to Aristotle, every act is aimed at the good and thus the good may be expressed in different
ways. However, the good life is a different thing. He said that the attainment of the ultimate good is
what constitutes the good life.
Eudaimonia means the good life, which 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.
According to Aristotle, man’s “form” comprises a soul, which has a plant-like part, an animal part, and
a rational part.
Man can only achieve happiness by using all his abilities and capabilities or living a life of virtue.
Virtue is the excellence of character that empowers one to do good and be good. Its opposite is
called vice.
According to Aristotle, there are two types of virtue: intellectual and moral.
Aristotle held that there are three forms of happiness. The first form of happiness is a life of pleasure
and enjoyment. The second form of happiness is a life as a free and responsible citizen. The third
form of happiness is a life as thinker and philosopher. Aristotle then emphasized that all three criteria
must be present at the same time for man to find happiness and fulfillment.
Aristotle advocated the “Golden Mean.” The ethics of Aristotle contain echoes of Greek medicine: only
by exercising balance and temperance will I achieve a happy or “harmonious” life. He rejected all
forms of imbalance.
REFERENCES
Aristotle. Nicomachean Ethics. Bartlett, R. and Collins C. (Trans.). Chicago, IL: The University of
Chicago Press. Retrieved from: http://classics.mit.edu/Aristotle/nicomachaen.html
Blackwell (2011). Contemplation contributes to Happiness most of all Ancient Greek Philosophy:
From the Presocratics to the Hellenistic Philosophers, Last modified on 06/25/2020 04:30:40.
Retrieved from: https://tomblackson.com/Ancient/chapter101.html
Messerly, John. Aristotle on the Good Life. December 19, 2013. Retrieved from:
https://reasonandmeaning.com/2013/12/19/aristotle-on-the-good-and-meaningful-life/
Messerly, John. Summary of Aristotle’s Theory of Human Nature. October 17, 2014. Retrieved from:
https://reasonandmeaning.com/2014/10/17/theories-of-human-nature-chapter-9-aristotle-part-1/
Quinto, Edward Jay M. and Nieva, Aileen D. (2019). Science, Technology, and Society. pp 95-109.
Quezon City: C&E Publishing.
United Nations Environment Programme (2011). Towards a green economy: pathways to sustainable
development and poverty eradication. Retrieved from:
https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/content/documents/126GER_synthesis_en.pdf
PANGASINAN STATE UNIVERSITY 4
