What is the good life? A contemporary American may state that it is to have all ones material needs satisfied. But is material wealth the only path to happiness? Can a rich man who focuses solely on the goal of accumulating wealth find peace within? Certainly the good life does include things that bring one pleasure. But the good life is also finding meaning and purpose to ones life, to look at ones life introspectively. Philosophers, such as Socrates, believe that the way to the good life is to find peace and harmony in ones soul. To have compassion for fellow men and to make virtuous decisions is the only road to the good life. That only a morally good person, who is peaceful and virtuous, has a soul that is functioning the way it is intended. Some may state that the idea of the good life may differ between cultures but a philosopher will argue that ethics and morals transcend cultures and to apply to all men. The good life is satisfying all human desires, not just the desire for pleasure, but the human desire for purpose as well.
             The good life is what all men seek. Some seek the good life through the misguided goal of materialism or lofty social status. Others may search through religion or public service. Although a person may gain pleasure from these examples, these paths alone will not achieve the good life. Most believe that happiness is attaining the things in which they desire and set their goals accordingly. But there is a big chasm between that in which you desire and what the soul finds satisfying. To satisfy the soul, one must seek out and question the meaning of life. Ask what is the purpose of human existence. When an individual can ponder and begin to answer these questions, life will have a texture much richer then the goal of individual pleasure.
             Humans are social beings. The human species has thrived on the ability to
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