PHI FPX 2000 Assessment 1 Ethics, Happiness, and the Good Life
Capella University
PHI FPX 2000 Ethics
Prof. Name
November, 2024
Ethics, Happiness, and the Good Life
These three concepts are closely related and formed the mainstay of much philosophical analysis through the ages. Ethics essentially deals with the question of what is right or wrong, forming the basis of conduct to lead individuals toward actions that promote well-being for themselves and others (Ciulla, 2020). Happiness, often identified as a state of satisfaction and contentment, is very closely connected to ethical living in most philosophical traditions. For instance, Aristotle’s concept of eudaimonia translated to “the good life,” or flourishing stipulates that only true happiness could result from living well and realizing one’s potential. Utilitarian thinkers such as John Stuart Mill may argue that happiness is, the presence of pleasure and absence of pain- is the ultimate good to which virtue could be related. The ultimate means to a meaningful and balanced life are therefore provided by aligning actions with ethical principles. This in turn can go as far as personal satisfaction up to doing good for society at large.
Definition of Happiness and a Well-Lived Life or the Good Life
Happiness usually relates to the feeling of being well, characterized by contentment, joy, and a sense of fulfillment (Bakracheva, 2020). It is an experience quite individualized, which depends on persons and their values, goals, and environment in their lifetime. Philosophers and psychologists alike have analyzed the concept of happiness: to some, a momentary feeling linked with something exterior in life, but to others it is something more permanent arising as a function of living a good life. Thus, Aristotle was able to explain happiness as eudaimonia-again flourishing-as a result of living well and fulfilling one’s potential. Contemporary perspectives link happiness to external sources, such as relationships and achievements, but also to internal sources, which include being thankful and present.
A “good life” or living well is much more than the pursuit of fleeting pleasures or material success (Marimuthu Prahasan, 2024). It implies purpose, meaningful relationships, and effective living by one’s values. For some, it will mean contributing to society, nurturing close relations, personal growth, and self-actualization. Virtue, self-control, and resilience, in particular, are considered an essential element in achieving the good life, as the Stoics, for example. But more contemporary thinkers talk about the balance between individual freedom and social responsibility. Finally, a good life would be something that entwines happiness at the personal level of living and also a broader fulfillment with ethical integrity.
Utilitarianism Ethical Theory
Utilitarianism is such an ethical theory, focusing on the concept of utility, that holds views of actions to be taken to maximize overall happiness or minimize overall suffering (Savulescu et al., 2020). Utilitarianism and its development were established by philosophers Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill. Under utilitarianism, an action’s morality is judged by its consequences rather than its intentions. Bentham came up with a quantitative approach, saying that pleasure and pain can be measured for one to determine what to do next. Mill further elaborated this, arguing that there exist qualitative differences between pleasurable feelings and that intellectual and moral pleasures are greater than physical ones. The utilitarian theory gives the notion that the morally right thing is the one that produces the greatest good for the greatest number of people, thus making it the practical approach to solving ethical dilemmas in personal, social as well as political contexts.
