The “good life.” It’s not something we spend much time contemplating between replying to text notifications and doom-scrolling through social media. But it’s been the philosophical obsession for millennia, from Aristotle to the latest TED Talk gurus. So, what does the “good life” mean today? Is it some lofty ideal only achievable by philosophers in togas? Or is it something that modern science can quantify, bottle up, and sell as a self-help eBook?
For me, the “good life” is about reaching the top of Maslow’s pyramid—getting your basic needs met so you can climb the hierarchy to self-actualization. Sure, it’s a little reductionist, but hey, it’s effective. Like Aristotle, I believe virtue (positive intent) is key. But in today’s world, we need to update that with a heavy dose of positive mindset and positive emotion.
In short, balancing your physical and mental health in a world that often feels like it’s spinning a bit too fast.
Aristotle: The Original Life Coach
Aristotle’s concept of the good life, or eudaimonia, wasn’t about fleeting pleasure or the next dopamine hit from your Instagram likes. It was about a deeper, more meaningful happiness—one rooted in virtue and purpose. Aristotle argued that happiness depends on ourselves (classic wisdom), but not in the “treat yourself to a spa day” way we hear so often. His good life was an ongoing practice of becoming excellent in character, not just in your LinkedIn bio.
He believed in doing what was right, not because it was fun or felt good, but because it led to flourishing. A positive mindset wasn’t explicitly on his radar, but if he could see how many self-help books now cite his work, I’m pretty sure he’d be grinning under that philosophically stern expression.
But wait, is this view still applicable? I think positive psychology simplifies eudaimonia just enough to make it practical in our hyper-connected, post-industrial world. While Aristotle was all about honing virtue over a lifetime, modern life throws a different set of challenges at us—like trying to maintain emotional stability while your inbox explodes and the algorithm gods taunt you with a never-ending stream of content.
The Stoics: Keep Calm and Keep Scrolling
If you think Aristotle was a bit too optimistic about our ability to achieve happiness, enter the Stoics. My personal favorite, Marcus Aurelius, would’ve killed it in the self-help section at Barnes & Noble. The Stoics taught that the good life wasn’t about happiness at all—it was about control. Specifically, controlling what you can (your mindset) and not letting external circumstances (like Twitter trolls) mess with your peace.
The Stoic principle of moderation and emotional control is compelling. Why live life on a rollercoaster of highs and lows when you can aim for the middle ground? Yet, modern-day Stoics seem to run into a problem when they try to assign meaning to emotions. The endless pursuit of “balance” often turns into avoidance of feeling anything at all.
The real trick isn’t to suppress your emotions, but to ride those waves without being thrown overboard. It’s about learning to surf, not standing on shore with your arms crossed, muttering about fate. And for this vibe, we turn to Eastern Philosophy.
Still in the West Kant Rolls In: The Duty-Driven Buzzkill
Speaking of keeping things balanced, let’s talk about Immanuel Kant—a man who turned the good life into a moral balancing act. Kant would argue that it’s your duty to live a good life, not because it makes you happy, but because it’s the right thing to do. Sure, that sounds noble, but if I had to spend every day dutifully ticking off tasks for the collective good, I’d probably lose it.
While Kant might argue that pursuing personal happiness is at odds with the collective good, I wholeheartedly disagree. If more individuals were focused on their personal “good life” in an intentional manner, we might find the collective good improving by default.
I mean, isn’t a world full of flourishing individuals better than one where everyone’s miserably doing what they “should” be doing?
Nietzsche: Nihilism is Having a Moment
Friedrich Nietzsche was never one to buy into the “happy life” hype. In fact, he looked at everyone striving for virtue, happiness, and meaning and basically said, “Why bother?” His brand of nihilism feels oddly relevant today in a world that’s constantly hitting the refresh button. Nietzsche didn’t think we should focus on happiness or collective duty. He wanted us to embrace struggle, create our own meaning, and become our own heroes—the Übermensch, if you will.
With the world in a constant state of flux, maybe it’s time to dust off Nietzsche’s philosophy and embrace a little nihilism with your morning coffee. Maybe the “good life” isn’t about happiness at all, but about redefining our values for a new era. Out with the old and in with the new, indeed.
Positive Psychology: The Science of Flourishing
And that brings us to positive psychology, a field that’s essentially taken Aristotle’s eudaimonia, given it a modern spin, and slapped a research grant on it. Pioneers like Martin Seligman have distilled ancient wisdom into the PERMA model (Positive emotions, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning, and Accomplishment). It’s a clear, digestible roadmap to happiness—complete with worksheets, questionnaires, and, of course, apps to track your progress.
While it may seem like a simplification of Aristotle’s ideas, that’s precisely what makes it so applicable. Positive psychology acknowledges that the world has changed drastically since the toga days. Sure, the value of eudaimonia remains the same, but we’ve evolved a whole new set of challenges. The industrial revolution, the rise of technology—our lives are different, even if our basic humanity is not.
I’m all for simplifying eudaimonia. Honestly, I think it’s even simpler than positive psychology makes it out to be.
Just be; Flow in the present moment, practice awareness, and the rest will follow.–that’s my 2 cent contribution to the ancient discussion.
The Good Life Today: What’s Left to Overcome?
Here’s the thing: there isn’t as much struggle to overcome in today’s world. We have grocery stores and Amazon, for crying out loud. Your needs can be met in two hours or less, with free shipping. We’ve got cell phones, social media, and all the tools to make life “easier.” Sure, there are different struggles—like digital overload and the stress of constant connectivity—but it’s nothing like trying to survive the plagues of ancient Rome or starvation in ancient Greece. That said, our struggles are no less valid, and they’re challenges we must overcome in the pursuit of the modern good life.
But is the “good life” today really that different from what Aristotle imagined? Positive psychology has given us a handy guidebook for well-being, but life isn’t easily boxed into a series of checklists and measurable outcomes. You have to take an interest in your own well-being. And take the time to sit back, reflect, and maybe even channel a little Nietzschean chaos when things get too orderly.