Based on this unit's readings, identify two different Greek approaches to the good life and state which philosopher comes closest to your own personal vision of what makes a life good; and give an example of what you may do in leisure and how it relates to said philosopher.

Answer:

Based on the readings in this unit, identify two different Greek approaches to the good life.

Since Socrates, the good life is based on truth, virtue, but put into practice, not simply theory. Socrates was a living example of what it is to exist attached to a form of thought developed in practice, without ambiguity. For him, life was a permanent state of examination, of reflection. "A life without examination is not worth living," he said. Socrates invited people all the time, not only to discover their own ignorance, but also to worry about the development of the virtues. Life centered only on the pursuit of pleasure and material things could end up being a ruin for anyone; it is not in this way that one reaches the areté - virtue. The areté contains intelligence and skill in driving. To know how to drive in practice, you need control over yourself. Do not overreach. This interesting vision of Socrates, goes a little with another of his famous phrases "I only know that I don't know anything". In what sense? In the sense that no matter how much is known, everything that reality offers as a possibility of knowledge will never be known. One of the fundamental ideas of Socrates to define the human being is the recognition of his own ignorance. For Socrates the good life is a permanent commitment of man to himself, to have a good life you have to be virtuous.

From Aristotle, For Aristotle, it is not only natural that man wants to be happy, but that the achievement of the highest good must be the main goal of our life. Now what does Aristotle understand by happiness? In his treatise on Nicomachean Ethics, the Greek philosopher develops a particular conception of happiness, known as eudemonism: happy is one who is possessed by a good genius (or, in Greek, by a eu-daimon, a good demon). Throughout his writing, Aristotle wonders how we must live in order to achieve that state of happiness or eudemony. There are three fundamental aspects for Aristotle involved in the good life: (1) his ethical theory of the "just medium"; (2) his conception of the virtues (or, better, aretes) as excellences or intrinsically human competences (in the broad sense, which includes moral competences, but also extra-moral ones, such as intellectual, relational faculties, etc.); and (3) the role it assigns to pleasure in achieving happiness. In the end, we will discuss the conclusion reached by the Hellenic thinker: the happy man is in turn the virtuous man, and vice versa, since in both cases the human being is supposed to have exercised his moral and extra-moral excellences throughout his life. For Aristotle, basically everything was in moderation. A life free of excesses that contributes to true happiness.

Establish which philosopher comes closest to your own personal vision of what makes a life good

Despite the fact that the two visions are extremely useful and interesting, I am more inclined to the vision of Aristotle. It seems to me that nothing is more damaging to the world today than the excesses that manifest in all areas of existence. It is precisely the lack of moderation that has most hindered the progress of men; it would also add excessive materialism and the trivialization of virtues as the fundamental basis for a desirable and happy life.

Give an example of what you can do in your free time and how you relate to that philosopher

I particularly like reading philosophy texts. The relationship that I establish with Aristotle's thought is the following: when learning one of the people who are thinking and intelligent, he has the real possibility - putting what he has learned into practice - of being more virtuous and more intelligent. Heidegger said that he was not very intelligent, it was simply that he leaned against very good trees, that is, he reaffirms the idea of ??Aristotle to seek the possibility in the development of virtues through the acquisition of knowledge to achieve happiness . If they ask me what I want to have to be happy, I would ask for faith, health and wisdom.