The Good Life

I believe most would like to believe that a well-lived existence would provide a sense of purpose, substantive interpersonal relationships, and the attainment of a pervasive state of overall contentment. The subjectivity of this arises from the fact that every individual has their own experiences and values. What constitutes a “good life” is shaped by one’s individual interpretation of fulfillment, which can be influenced by their background and beliefs. 

The Morality of it All

Essentially, the most simple way we use the word “good” is to express moral approval. Meaning that most people’s first thought is that living a “good” life means being a morally good person. Morally good people are trustworthy, selfless, and generous. They regularly practice the most important virtues, as they don’t spend all of their time merely pursuing their own pleasure. These are normally the type of people we aspire to be, if we have not already become them.

The moral conception of the “good” life had plenty of stars. For example, Plato gave priority to being a virtuous person over all other supposedly good things, that were thought to bring pleasure like wealth and/or power. Plato accepted Socrates’ original view that “to know the good and to do the good.” Throughout his lifetime, Plato argued that it is much better for a person to suffer from a wrong than to actually do the wrong, and that a true,morally good person would enjoy their personal, inner- harmony. Although many can easily agree with this view,it is worth noting Plato bolsters his argument with his account of the afterlife,in which he believed virtuous people are rewarded and wicked people are punished. This raises the philosophical question within Plato’s reasoning of whether one should act virtuously because it is inherently the right thing to do or to merely obtain a reward.

The Lenses

Due to humans’ unique interpretation of what constitutes a “good” life, there are a multitude of lenses and perspectives that could be looked through. Sometimes, a person can appear to live a “good” life by checking the boxes fulfilling all of the conventional milestones. Marrying your true love, working your dream job, and reaching your fullest potential. Although this is a popular lens to look through, this is only one out of an endless list of possibilities. 

As previously mentioned, a person’s background can significantly shape their perspective on what constitutes a “good” life. This can influence and be influenced by a person’s cultural, social, and personal experiences. A recent poll by NBC asked respondents ages 18-29: “Which of the following is important to your personal definition of success?” An intriguing aspect of this poll is the significant variation in responses based on the individual’s political views and gender. For example, Gen Z men who voted for Trump identified having children as the most important factor in their personal definition of success, whereas Gen Z women who voted for Harris ranked having children as the second least important factor.

Interpretation Is Endless

The so-called “good” life varies greatly on individual experiences, and it allows us to appreciate the diversity of human values.

Because of this diversity , there can never be a single definitive answer to what living well truly means. The ongoing subjectivity of this question ensures that it will remain open to interpretation forever. So, I leave you with this…If the definition of a “good” life changes with every perspective, can we ever truly know if we are living the right life at all?

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