Definition: The concept of "the good life" - embodies a virtuous life, and a happy one.
Insight: Eudaimonia is a response to the question "what is the best way to live?".
Insight: The definition of eudaimonia became a central concern of Greek moral philosophy.
Insight: Greek philosophers were interested in defining virtues appropriate to the state, which included eudaimonia: how should a society be organised to best allow people to live a "good life"..
Insight: The Cynics believed a good life to be in harmony with nature.
Insight: The Epicureans believed pleasure to be the greatest good.
Insight: The Stoics believed the good life meant accepting things beyond our control.
Definition: (1) there is suffering; (2) the origin of suffering; (3) the end of suffering; (4) the Eightfold Path to end suffering - right mindfulness, right action, right intention, right livelihood, right effort, right concentration, right speech, right understanding).
Insight: Life is characterised by suffering, caused by unfulfillable desires.
Insight: We can overcome suffering by giving up our egos and attachments to worldly power or possessions.
Example: Courage is a virtue between the undesirable traits of recklessness and cowardice.
Reference: Aristotle envisaged the spectrum of a virtue with an optimal value in the middle - which he called the Golden Mean.
Example: A carpenter uses his favourite hammer for 50 years. During that time the handle is replaced 3 times, the head replaced twice. Is it the same hammer?
Example: Human cells change until all are replaced. Are we still the same person?
Insight: Despite change, things can still retain an identity.
Insight: It appears that the human mind is important to our identity: knowledge, experience, memory.
Bio: Founder of the stoic school. Taught that nature is reality, that we must use our capacity for reason and accept things that we have no control over, and control that which we do - including our emotions and response to things.
Insight: Zeno believed that virtue is sufficient to ensure happiness and the good life.
