I Want to Have a Good Life
Today is New Year's Day. and so I am thinking about what it means to live a good life.
To me, a good life is one that is based on virtue--(1) choosing to be virtuous in my actions and (2) deriving pleasure from my choice of actions. If I undertake number 1 but do not achieve number 2, I am not living my best life. Likewise if I choose number 2 without checking box number 1, I am also underachieving in a major way.
I most certainly could be more virtuous than I am, but then I might diminish the pleasure I get from my very virtuous actions. Better to be somewhat virtuous and enjoy every moment than be uber virtuous and hate every moment on Earth. So I am constantly thinking about how to be more virtuous while achieving personal happiness.
And there is another necessary component of living a good life: examining my life to make any mid-course adjustments. Was it Aristotle who said that the unexamined life is not worth living? He had a point.
Have a great year everyone, but have an even greater life.
To me, a good life is one that is based on virtue--(1) choosing to be virtuous in my actions and (2) deriving pleasure from my choice of actions. If I undertake number 1 but do not achieve number 2, I am not living my best life. Likewise if I choose number 2 without checking box number 1, I am also underachieving in a major way.
I most certainly could be more virtuous than I am, but then I might diminish the pleasure I get from my very virtuous actions. Better to be somewhat virtuous and enjoy every moment than be uber virtuous and hate every moment on Earth. So I am constantly thinking about how to be more virtuous while achieving personal happiness.
And there is another necessary component of living a good life: examining my life to make any mid-course adjustments. Was it Aristotle who said that the unexamined life is not worth living? He had a point.
Have a great year everyone, but have an even greater life.