My Personal View on Actual Meaning of Living the ”Good Life”
Many people from different cultures throughout history have given various definitions to what living a good life means, what brings happiness and makes life worth living. Countless books and articles have been written on the topic, as each and everyone has their own unique views on life and what makes it “good”. Plato's perspective on a good life pertains to wisdom, which is a guide in life, bringing goodness in all areas.
Much like his teacher, Aristotle claimed that acquiring knowledge and developing moral virtues through good habits is what it takes to have a good life; these virtues lead to making the right choices, which ultimately provides a good life. The most important virtues would be moderation, courage, and justice. However, he argues that knowledge and virtues are not enough, as humans also need fortune. On the other hand, philosophers such as Nietzsche claimed that life has no intrinsic meaning, therefore it does not have any value. A nihilistic approach like this is dangerous and leads to destruction. The examples provided above show how different people's mindsets are. However, one thing is certain: humans have always been in pursuit of meaning and happiness.
In my opinion, living the “good life” entails several aspects such as a clearly defined purpose and personal ethics, health, meaningful relationships, and a decent material living. Things like having a purpose, personal ethics and meaningful relationships depend on us to a greater extent and can be controlled. However, we are not in full control of our health and of the living standard.
Man's search for meaning and purpose begins in early adolescence, when people form their views on life, learn and adopt systems of beliefs. In the same time, personal ethics are also shaped, which guide people's behavior and actions. In my opinion, honesty is high on the list of moral principles. My parents have taught me to value the truth and it has shaped my life since I was a child. I have learned to stand up for what is right and protect my beliefs. I also value hard work and everything that I have accomplished followed discipline and consistency. Respect for other humans dominates my core beliefs as well and I believe that all people have value regardless of their backgrounds and cultures. Along with honesty, justice sometimes entails standing up and protecting the oppressed. The classic movie “On the Waterfront” is a good example of courage to tell the truth and to fight against the injustices of society. It is the story of a young dockworker who is tricked into being accomplice to the murder of a innocent man. His conscience plagues him and after a series of events including his falling in love with the victim's sister, he confesses the truth. He also stands for independence of thought, fighting the longshoremen's corrupt leader, thus becoming an inspiration for the weak.
Furthermore, humans are social beings and they need to be in relationships in order to function well. Family is the first setting where humans are shown love and offered a sense of belonging.
