What creates a 'good' life?
According to the Study of Philosophy and Aristotle.
The question of what creates a ‘good’ life is one that’s been pondered by many others throughout history, including some of its greatest minds.
I recall first arriving at my university in the United States more than a decade ago. As is customary to a liberal arts education, enrolling in a myriad of subjects, outside of our main major— one of which was Philosophy 101 was mandatory.
As an eighteen-year-old, fresh high school graduate, the idea of a class dedicated to exploring theories on life and thinking for thinking’s sake was a new concept—a very intriguing one. Though I started as a Communications major, I ended up graduating with a bachelor’s in Philosophy. To say that one introductory class changed my life is an understatement.
I spent the last two years of my four-year degree utterly mesmerised by philosophy. Though I was allowed to choose other subjects to fulfil my elective credits, my schedule was 100% in on philosophy—so much so, I nearly didn’t graduate, because I almost missed a psychology credit requirement—a story for another time.
The Britannica Dictionary describes philosophy as “the study of ideas about knowledge, truth, the nature and meaning of life’ (now you can understand my obsession with these topics).
As I sit thinking about what value I can add to your day and what I think of a good life—or simply what makes life worthwhile— I thought it would be wise to dive into an exploration of some of history’s greatest thinkers.
More than a decade later, the lessons and questions I encountered remain vibrant within me, serving as a guiding post to how I navigate life and live this one life we live. I owe a great deal of who I am today to those theories I devoured more than a decade ago. On the question of what creates a good life, let’s start with Aristotle.
Aristotle believed that a good life is about the pursuit of eudaimonia.
Translated as human flourishing, happiness, or to live well, eudaimonia is not a feeling or a fleeting chase of pleasure, but rather a constant state of living in accordance of virtues and fulfilling one’s potential. Eudaimonia is an end in itself, desirable for its own sake.
According to Aristotle eudaimonia or the good life is anchored in virtue (arete). To live a good life, according to his writings in the Nicomachean Ethics, requires the development and practice of virtues, which are of moral and intellectual qualities such as courage, temperance, wisdom, friendship and justice, amongst others.
Virtues, according to Aristotle, are defined as character traits and tendencies to act in particular ways, but they’re also a proactive quest that’s developed through intentional practice and habit throughout life.
The key to understanding Aristotle’s idea of a good life lies in this concept of virtue-seeking over a lifetime. Like a never-ending game of World of Warcraft, each new chapter in life brings about new virtues to exercise and new quests to master.
This is why the matter of living a good life lies in the daily practice and rituals of exercising reason, committing to virtuous activity, maintaining balance and moderation, engaging in contemplation, sustaining external goods like friendships and a degree of fortune, nurturing social relationships, and embracing a lifelong pursuit. It’s never about momentary pleasures or short-term gains—a ‘good’ life, according to Aristotle is about a lifestyle of continuous growth.
A good life is in the pursuit.
When I first encountered these principles I began to understand that what makes a life worthwhile is not the destination but the journey. I know it’s cliché. But, if we choose to live by Aristotle’s ideas, every day presents a new opportunity to exercise mastery over our virtues.
As the sun rises, we have a choice on how we want to behave, which habits to cultivate, how we spend our minutes, which friendships to nurture, and engage in the daily practices that form the totality of our lives.
A ‘good’ life is not about reaching arbitrary goals of happiness, material wealth, accolades, or status. According to Aristotle, it is the ongoing pursuit and maintenance of virtues.
It’s about evaluating life through the gift of reasoning, exploring purpose and meaning while surrounded by relationships of mutual respect. For Aristotle, the ultimate form of human existence is the contemplative life (theoria), as such a life is the best use of our unique capacity for critical intellectual and introspective thinking—leading to life’s greatest fulfilment.
Probably why I find all that I do here so fulfilling too!
What do you think about Aristotle’s idea of a ‘good’ life?
Over the next few weeks, before my annual break, I’ll explore some of these thinkers and theories I encountered years ago about what creates a ‘good’ life. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out. Otherwise, stay tuned!
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