What constitutes a good worthwhile human life?

(Right or Wrong and the answer is emotion) Metaphysical background: Platos non naturalism, Aristotles Naturalism, Stoic Natural Law. Purification for Plato means: - To free yourself from bodily things Separate the soul as far as possible from the body - The reason for purification is because they need to attain intellectual knowledge of the Forms and to be better pre pared to do so after death. A good and worthwhile life is one that involves purification in order to separate the soul from the body (include senses) as much in possible in order to be able to use the intellect to attain knowledge of the forms. - To Plato, the true reward for courage & moderation is having separation of soul from body. - The soul must overcome bodily obsessions - Having things in moderation. Moderation/ courage=virtue - Many people practice virtue for the wrong reasons, FEAR.( Stop smoking to pro long own life, not for moderation) - People are courageous because of fear.(being courageous in battle because retreat would be humiliating) Aristotle on Ethics: - Aristotle understands happiness in terms of means and ends. Ex. Instrumental end and ultimate end = chief or final good Virtue as excellence in performance of characteristic function which equals happiness. (This is what it is to live a good and worthwhile life) - Two kinds of virtue-intellectual and moral. - Connection between practical reason and emotion in moral virtue - Moral virtue is a means by two extremes. Ex: courage, generosity (too much = stupidity for lack of reason, too little= cowardness) - A good society needs good people who are morally virtuous= moderation, courage, generosity, etc. Example: Getting cash= getting to Boston means= house of blues means= seeing rolling stones= happiness ( fulfillment of potential) Epictetus/Stoicism: - Natural Law as a metaphysical foundation for his ethics. - What in under our control and not under our control. What should be our attitude towards things not under our control? - Judgment as that which disturbs us. - Epictetus tells us what happiness is and what is a good and worthwhile life is; serenity. This is our goal of his ethics. - Detachment from role, yet taking the role seriously. Ex. Why because of God. God represents intelligent universe and he gives it to us. Hume: - Concept of value judgments being based on emotion, not facts and reason. Concept of reason. - The basis for distinguishing right from wrong-emotion of sympathy or benevolence. - Major idea was scientific reasoning=Objective Facts.(e=mc^2) - Science however does not explain MORALITY. - Emotion is always changing---empathy is putting yourself in anothers shoes. (Good and bad) Kant: - Criticizes Hume- emotion is inconstant and subjective, not universal. There is a reason not just science. Agrees with Hume that facts are value or neutral. - Pure reason not science or emotion that provides basis for morality. Ex. For judgments of right and wrong. Universality of reason. - Categorical Imperative= treat rational beings in every instance as ends and not just as means. No exceptions; inequality. - Need to know how Hypothetical and categorical imperatives and how the differ. - Why for Kant, consequences of acts cannot determine whether it is good or bad; it relates to hypothetical and categorical. - Eat right if you want to be healthy. Do what is right, if you want to be rewarded. Utilitarianism: -Basis for morality -Connection between consequential view of morality(utilitarianism) to Kants description of hypothetical imperative. How Kant would criticize utilitarian view in terms of the concept of categorical imperative. Hobbes: Concept of good and evil. What is the ultimate goal of our actions, and how does this define good and evil. Promotes self- interest. Self-interest = confortable We are all egotists (we are only concerned for ourselves) Nietzche: Master of morality: nonconformist, taking responsibility, living dangerously. Slave morality: conformist, not taking chances shirking responsibility, whining, not rocking the boat. Christianity-Slave morality-follower/Master Morality-leader. - Appolonian and Dionysian mind sets. A full human being must balance these two mind sets. - Appolonian: intellectually, order, harmony. - Dionysian: emotion, creativity, destruction, ecstasy.