Finding the “Good Life”
When envisioning the “good life,” we often imagine immeasurable happiness, where all burdens in life slip into oblivion. Unfortunately, this world cannot exist for most individuals, posing the question, what is a “good life” in the life we are given? And once we have found the good life, does that mean we have found happiness, which defined here is the highest good for man. On the journey towards a unique “good life” many have attempted isolation, others have acquired a religion, and some simply search endlessly for happiness, only to wonder if the life they have achieved is truly the “good life.” For centuries, philosophers such as, Aristotle, Kant, and Plato, have tried to crack the egg and reveal the answer to the …show more content…
This means, physical activities that relieve stress, or enable an individual to escape the noise of their mundane lives. Often times this can be seen as temporary isolation, which leads to increased energy and happiness. For example, camping in the mountains, playing a sport, going to watch a movie, or binging on Netflix. This is an indulgence which is good in moderation, however, to much of a good thing is bad for the health of an individual. These activities allow us to regain peace of mind, organize our thinking, experience nature, or simply relation. Another external good is human relations, in order to live the “good life,” according to Aristotle one needs relations with other people (Haslip). On the contrary, in the Proenneke video, a man isolated himself from the world, and lived in a cabin for years with limited human contact. He said he connected to nature, saying, “Beyond was all around me,” (“Alone in the Wilderness”). Although, he had reached unity in nature, found internal peace, and some external goods, he hadn’t reached complete happiness. He was missing human relation, which is crucial to the happiness of the human beings. Interactions with people are necessary for the help of an individual, allowing us feel like we belong to the community, are wanted, and loved. Human relations are just one example of an external good that is needed to reach …show more content…
Echoing the words of Socrates, living life is about examining life, reason lets human beings participate in their world, to be human is to think and explore. One good for the soul is knowledge, as stated by Ishmael Beah, “we have a personal library in our minds that we must provide information for, and nourish,” (Beah). But it is not enough to only examine the universe and soak in the outside world, we must examine the universe in our soul. Although a “good life” begins with a brain that is healthy and constantly exposed to new knowledge and experiences. In order to find the good life, knowledge and new information must be provided of the soul. Furthermore, goods for the soul can also include, discipline, similar to the Panoptican which creates a transparent structure and discipline in society (Blosser). But with the knowledge of the Panoptican we realize that complete freedom of the soul, is impossible, because freedom is an illusion. Many people, when envisioning a good life, see freedom and life with not burdens, but as stated in Foucault article, “is it surprising that prisons resemble factories, schools, barracks, hospitals, which all resemble prisons?” (Foucault). We are imprisoned in society and most people would view this negatively, however, in order to achieve the good life, we must realize that we must find a way to live peacefully with the Panoptican. For example, we can use the Panoptican as a way to
When envisioning the “good life,” we often imagine immeasurable happiness, where all burdens in life slip into oblivion. Unfortunately, this world cannot exist for most individuals, posing the question, what is a “good life” in the life we are given? And once we have found the good life, does that mean we have found happiness, which defined here is the highest good for man. On the journey towards a unique “good life” many have attempted isolation, others have acquired a religion, and some simply search endlessly for happiness, only to wonder if the life they have achieved is truly the “good life.” For centuries, philosophers such as, Aristotle, Kant, and Plato, have tried to crack the egg and reveal the answer to the …show more content…
This means, physical activities that relieve stress, or enable an individual to escape the noise of their mundane lives. Often times this can be seen as temporary isolation, which leads to increased energy and happiness. For example, camping in the mountains, playing a sport, going to watch a movie, or binging on Netflix. This is an indulgence which is good in moderation, however, to much of a good thing is bad for the health of an individual. These activities allow us to regain peace of mind, organize our thinking, experience nature, or simply relation. Another external good is human relations, in order to live the “good life,” according to Aristotle one needs relations with other people (Haslip). On the contrary, in the Proenneke video, a man isolated himself from the world, and lived in a cabin for years with limited human contact. He said he connected to nature, saying, “Beyond was all around me,” (“Alone in the Wilderness”). Although, he had reached unity in nature, found internal peace, and some external goods, he hadn’t reached complete happiness. He was missing human relation, which is crucial to the happiness of the human beings. Interactions with people are necessary for the help of an individual, allowing us feel like we belong to the community, are wanted, and loved. Human relations are just one example of an external good that is needed to reach …show more content…
Echoing the words of Socrates, living life is about examining life, reason lets human beings participate in their world, to be human is to think and explore. One good for the soul is knowledge, as stated by Ishmael Beah, “we have a personal library in our minds that we must provide information for, and nourish,” (Beah). But it is not enough to only examine the universe and soak in the outside world, we must examine the universe in our soul. Although a “good life” begins with a brain that is healthy and constantly exposed to new knowledge and experiences. In order to find the good life, knowledge and new information must be provided of the soul. Furthermore, goods for the soul can also include, discipline, similar to the Panoptican which creates a transparent structure and discipline in society (Blosser). But with the knowledge of the Panoptican we realize that complete freedom of the soul, is impossible, because freedom is an illusion. Many people, when envisioning a good life, see freedom and life with not burdens, but as stated in Foucault article, “is it surprising that prisons resemble factories, schools, barracks, hospitals, which all resemble prisons?” (Foucault). We are imprisoned in society and most people would view this negatively, however, in order to achieve the good life, we must realize that we must find a way to live peacefully with the Panoptican. For example, we can use the Panoptican as a way to