The Good Life: Various Views and Ways to Achieve It
The Good Life: Various Views and Ways to Achieve It
PHI200: Mind and Machine
The Good Life: Various Views and Ways to Achieve It Money, clothes, cars, houses, and even marriage – these are all things that some may consider to determine whether or not they are living the “good life.” Others may view the good life as being able to enjoy nature every day, being able to run and jump, or even being able to read as many books as they please. Whatever one’s view of having or living the good life may be, there are certain assets or factors in their lives that makes them believe that their lives are good. There are also certain things they did, qualities they possess or steps they took to get to their good-life status. Different people world-wide have different cultures and beliefs, and this leads them to have different perspectives on what the good life exactly is and how one goes about obtaining it. Perhaps since the first cave men were alive, the concept of the “good life” has existed. No doubt cave men saw the benefit in taking shelter in caves during inclement weather or whenever danger was near or in finding food for nourishment. One can’t help but to imagine that even these cave men did the best they could to find adequate shelter and adequate food. By doing these things, they would be able to live and function without many issues. Why would they not attempt to be problem-free? While these pre-historic creatures may not have been thinking about driving a Mercedes Benz, certainly they did things to ensure their comfort and well-being. In other words, it could be said by some that because even cave men had the brain power to make things as comfortable for themselves as possible, human beings automatically want to do those things that put them at the most easy state of being possible – good-life status. Of course, only a person who actually believed that good-life status is determined by a person achieving the easiest state of being possible would
PHI200: Mind and Machine
The Good Life: Various Views and Ways to Achieve It Money, clothes, cars, houses, and even marriage – these are all things that some may consider to determine whether or not they are living the “good life.” Others may view the good life as being able to enjoy nature every day, being able to run and jump, or even being able to read as many books as they please. Whatever one’s view of having or living the good life may be, there are certain assets or factors in their lives that makes them believe that their lives are good. There are also certain things they did, qualities they possess or steps they took to get to their good-life status. Different people world-wide have different cultures and beliefs, and this leads them to have different perspectives on what the good life exactly is and how one goes about obtaining it. Perhaps since the first cave men were alive, the concept of the “good life” has existed. No doubt cave men saw the benefit in taking shelter in caves during inclement weather or whenever danger was near or in finding food for nourishment. One can’t help but to imagine that even these cave men did the best they could to find adequate shelter and adequate food. By doing these things, they would be able to live and function without many issues. Why would they not attempt to be problem-free? While these pre-historic creatures may not have been thinking about driving a Mercedes Benz, certainly they did things to ensure their comfort and well-being. In other words, it could be said by some that because even cave men had the brain power to make things as comfortable for themselves as possible, human beings automatically want to do those things that put them at the most easy state of being possible – good-life status. Of course, only a person who actually believed that good-life status is determined by a person achieving the easiest state of being possible would
References: Birnbacher, D. (Mar., 1999). Quality of Life: Evaluation or Description? Quality of Life: The Concept and Its Application in Health Care. 2(1), 25-36. Retrieved from: Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/27504065 Dunn, D. S., & Brody, C. (2008). Defining the good life following acquired physical disability. Rehabilitation Psychology, 53(4), 413-425. doi:10.1037/a0013749. Retrieved from: http://web.ebscohost.com Mosser, K. (2010). Philosophy: A concise introduction. Retrieved from http://content.ashford.edu/booksAUPHI200.10.1 Sandoe, P. (Mar., 1999). Quality of Life: Three Competing Views. Quality of Life: The Concept and Its Application in Health Care. 2(1), 11-23. Retrieved from: Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/27504064)