The Good Life Method: Reasoning Through the Big Questions of Happiness, Faith, and Meaning by Meghan SullivanMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
An interesting review of virtue ethics from two (2) philosophy professors at Notre Dame. While the primary alternative used was utilitarian ethics, or consequentialism, there is a very brief mention of deontological ethics as well. And so we get a very good introduction to the likes of Plato and Aristotle, Socrates and Seneca, Aquinas and Kierkegaard with brief comparisons to stoicism and epicureanism. What we don’t get is specific answers … and the authors explain why that is toward the end of the book …
“Many a cult has used philosophical language and frameworks to direct people on pseudo-spiritual journeys of self-discovery. These inevitably end poorly for everyone involved. If a philosopher promises to give you the good life, you should go skeptical.”
With all of that, the authors present the material in a way to guide the reader to discover which questions they should answer and how to think about them (with a decided Catholic PoV). Each of the chapters focuses on a specific element of “The Good Life,” beginning with how you might define what that is. Woven into that are fairly long “personal apologies” that helped tie in the philosophical concepts presented therein. At the end of each chapter, they provide a section called Truthcraft/Soulcraft to encourage “Strong Questions” that help the read put the ideas into practice. Over all, I found it did an fantastic job of doing exactly what the author’s set out to do … to make me evaluate exactly what I want out of life.
Introduction
I. The Good Life
1. Desire the Truth
2. Live Generously
3. Take Responsibility
4. Work with Integrity
5. Love Attentively
II. God and the Good Life
6. Wonder about God
7. Take a Leap of Faith
8. Struggle with Suffering
9. Contemplate Your Purpose
10. Prepare for Death
Code: The Limited of Philosophy
I was given this free advance reader copy (ARC) ebook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
#TheGoodLifeMethod #NetGalley.
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