My Plan for Achieving the Good Life

Zoe Lee

Part of the human condition involves gazing into the future. As were unable to go

back in time ourselves (at least in our current technological state), if we are unhappy with

our current state of being, we rely on the progression of time (and the inevitable change it

brings) to move us into a more acceptable state. Personally, this human trait is one of the

most dominant themes in my life. As I grew up with various forms of heartache, as well as

being inhibited from growth in some cases, one of the few things that kept me motivated at

times was the thought of a better future. Although things have significantly improved for

me these days, dreaming about the future and making big goals has stuck with me.

Thats one of the big reasons why I chose to take this class; combining my love for

philosophical thinking with the ability to choose a more informed, logical future for myself

was a combination that I couldnt resist. Over the past semester, by reading and discussing

works from great philosophers of all ages, I came to an inevitable conclusion. Our future is

often heavily impacted by the past. Although we cant directly see the past, its ripple effects

from all ages are readily apparent. In this day and age of having information and historical

resources available at ones fingertips, the potential impacts are even greater than ever

before. Learning what different schools of philosophical thought considered to be essential

for the good life, I have amalgamated many of them into a cohesive path for my own life.

This plan already gives me satisfaction simply through being able to blaze my own unique
way through life. Although it was influenced through much study and discussion, I can

proudly say that this path is a product of much personal reflection and contemplation.

Although all parts of the good life plan are equally important, as without one, the

whole plan would lose some value, I choose to start with the ones that have always been

the most obvious to me. These include friendship, love, cultivation of mind and character,

living fully as a human being, and having a relationship with God. For me, these five go hand

in hand, and they already encompass maximizing pleasure, so I will focus more on the

Aristotelian perspective on this, rather than the Epicurean perspective.

Friendship and the concept of love has been something that I have found hard to

gain ever since I was very young. I had trouble connecting with people as a little girl, as I just

had my mom to socialize with, and she was two generations older than myself. As a result, I

was overly intellectual at times with my peers, and although my maturity level wasnt too

far above my peers, the differences in interests often hurt me when it came to relating to

people my age. As a result, I often felt alone in the world, craving friendship with others. In

high school, I made a conscious effort to become more extroverted and interact more with

other people. Putting my mind to this actually worked out well, and I was able to make a

great group of friends to finish my high school years with.

However, the restrictions of friendship in the real world set in when I started going

to college. I kept most of my close high school friends, and made many new ones in college,

but the craziness of day to day life set in. However, as the demands of college, homework,
and jobs became more and more pressing, many people who I considered close drifted

away, and I had to reprioritize which people were important to me. Additionally, during the

first year and a half of college, I was fascinated by the amount of people to meet and the

veritable banquet of opinions of things to do. As a result, I thought that my group of friends

would be large, and I tried to stay in contact with tons of people. Over time, though, this led

to many one-sided relationships, and this semester, due to disillusionment, I have been

making a more meaningful effort with people. I want to only stay in touch with the people

who actually care about me; even if I dont get to see some of these people all the time, I

want to know that my time is being used well, and not squandered in making relationships

that dont hold any intrinsic value.

My past experiences are why the Montaigne reading on friendship spoke so much to

me. It prioritized quality of friendship over the quantity of friends one has. I also

appreciated the fact that he acknowledged the differences in types of friends in life, which

we discussed further in class. You can connect with people on different levels, and its

perfectly normal to have different friends that dont go as deep as the spiritual soulmate.

Although he knew that in ordinary friendships, you must walk softly, bridle in hand, for the

knot is so loose, at any moment a many may fear it will slip (1), as I have mentioned with

my own experiences above, he also claimed that no one should rank common friendship

with (2) his friendship with Etienne de la Boetie. He claimed their souls had grown so

completely into one being. (and) had uncovered the depths of our hearts(3), signifying

that their friendship made them less of two separate people, and more of one entity. This
depth of friendship is we all seek as humans, being as nature seems to have inclined

mankind to social intercourse above all else..(with the) supreme point of perfection (4)

being friendship. However, unlike some of the idealist philosophical views we have studied,

Montaigne recognizes our human weaknesses, and the rarity of this type of friend, even

going so far as to claim it is a great deal if Fortune bring it to pass once in any three

centuries(5). This is a large contributing factor to why I have incorporated this philosophy

into my path for the good life; it seems to acknowledge the struggles that I have gone

through in finding friends to stick by me, and tell me that one true friend is a greater

blessing than many people may ever receive. Seeing how humanity hasnt changed over the

ages, and that at our core, we are still creatures who are rarely able to make intense

connections with each other, shows me that part of my good life plan will be settling for the

best that humanity can give, even if its less than ideal. Nurturing myself, and finding

someone with whom I can grow completely into one being (6) with, as well as having a

few friends that I know fairly well that I can pass the time with as needed, is an essential

part of my good life plan.

I believe that love and friendship can be intertwined. Montaigne doesnt believe this,

claiming that the fire of love is restless, scorching, and sharp.a frantic desire for what

eludes us(7), while friendship is a temperate, constant, and firm heat.of the spirit

sharpened by use(8). He fails to see that the restless heat can be built on a basis of the

temperate heat. Even with our own fires tended simply for warmth, are there not

occasional flares? This is similar with some romantic relationships. Oftentimes, romantic
relationships stem from a basis of friendships, and the romance can often strengthen the

friendship underneath, and vice versa, making sure the relationship doesnt completely die

in the slow times. In my life, I have found this to be the case. All my romantic interests, or

daydreams in some cases, were with people that I already knew. Eventually, when I got into

my current relationship, it was with one of my closest friends, with whom I had already

been through a lot. But the simple act of getting to know him more, and getting to know

him from a different perspective, solidified the act of him becoming my best friend.

Montaigne fails to see this, partly due to his viewpoint of women not being sophisticated

enough to have this level of depth in a relationship (which is clearly biased by the culture he

lived in). However, he does acknowledge later on that if a marriage occurred where soul

and body reached complete fruition, and a man be engaged throughout, doubtless the

friendship it attained would be fuller and more perfect(9). I believe that this type of

friendship is completely possible in this day and age, and one that I am on my way to

securing for the rest of my life, if I remain on my current path.

Staying on the topic of love, I also found parts of Platonic love interesting. This is to

say, Platos idea of love is interesting, rather than the modern day view of platonic love; the

distinction being that for him, sensuality without deeper roots is frowned upon. From the

start of the Symposium, he distinguishes between vulgar and heavenly love, saying the

vulgar love their bodies rather than their souls.looking only to the act, careless of

whether or not it is done beautifully(10). The heavenly is delighting in what is by nature

stronger and possessed of more intelligence(11), which in this case is in reference to boys
(which contains the gender bias of his time), but the underlying logic of loving ones

intelligence, and looking beyond the body seems to be a necessary part of love, even today.

For if one loves the body more than the soulas soon as the bloom of the body he once

loved fades, he takes off and flies (12). On the other side though, the lover of a worthy

character abides through life, for he is joined to what is constant(13). I wholeheartedly

agree with this, because what is love of the body, other than lust. Lust by its nature is fickle

according to the body causing its attraction. Since beauty fades like a flower, quickly and

driving any suitors away who would come to drink of its sweet nectar, only to find a husk of

its former glory, no strong relationship can be built on bodily love. This is not to say that the

Symposium says no physical love is good, rather that, it is beautiful if done beautifully,

shameful if done shamefully(14), with beauty stemming from the love of character, and

shame from lust. From my personal experiences, I have found no desire to have a

relationship based on physicality alone, and I never quite understood the effectiveness of

the concept of dating as a result. However, I have truly felt fulfilled in my current

relationship, because being friends first, we truly fell in love with each others characters

before thoughts of physicality crossed our minds. Having a person to completely love due to

their mind, body, and soul, not just some or one of those, is necessary for my life to be truly

good, and a relationship with a person who can reciprocate that is an unwavering part of

my plan for a good life.

Cultivation of mind and character is hand and hand with both friendship and love.

Both ones friends and ones lover should encourage you to cultivate your mind, and your
character, in order to improve ones self. If the people you surround yourself with dont

encourage you to grow into a better person, should you even associate with them? Socrates

doesnt think so, and I agree with him. Socrates claims that one should regard good

opinions, with the opinions of the wise being good, and the opinions of the foolish being

bad(15). If one is trying to become a better person then, why would they surround

themselves with fools? One instinctively seeks approval from the ones closest to them, so in

order for me to thoroughly cultivate my mind, I must ensure that the people surrounding

me are wise, and knowledgeable about the ways of the world. Even after vetting my

friends, I need to ensure, after listening to their opinions, that reflection shows it is the

best course of action(16). Surrounding myself with people I value, with opinions I trust to

be well-informed and educated will help me keep my mind sound, and limit the rashness of

my decisions.

Living fully in the world is truly embracing all that the world gives us, and I believe

that the Aristotelian way incorporates maximizing pleasure and minimizing pain in a much

more thorough way than what Epicurus espouses. While Epicurus philosophy is much more

substantial than most people give him credit for, focusing on the intellectual and mental,

rather than the physical pleasures, I feel as if his philosophy is lacking a few fundamental

parts of the human experience. For although happiness is something final and self-

sufficient, and is the end of action(17) , the pursuit of pleasure isnt all we are meant to do

as humans. The discussion of different types of life, and different types of purposes to these

lives is talked about here, and elaborated on in the Stoic philosophy. There is a life of
nutrition and growth(18), a life of perception(19), and a life of rational principle(20).

Although we possess all three of these functions, the third belongs only to humanity. As a

result, to live as a full human, in order to have a good life, I must actively cultivate my ability

of reason, which will inherently give me pleasure.

Aristotle goes on to say virtuous actions must be in themselves pleasant (21), as

the lovers of what is noble find pleasant the things that are by nature pleasant (22). This

strikes a chord with me, as I feel as if things that are inherently in our nature are what make

us happy. This is found all around us today, from students being happier in college,

majoring in something they love, than being forced to take lots of other subjects in high

school, to people going on TV talent shows, and redefining themselves after twenty years in

a dead-end job. If one would be to argue that this doesnt extend to morality, and treating

others as you would treat yourself, it would seem like a weak argument. One inherently

feels better about oneself when they help others; is this not a sign of being in accordance

with our (albeit social) nature? Volunteering, making myself virtuous, and available to my

community has always been a priority for me. Realizing that upholding virtue, and caring for

our fellow man, is in our nature, I now understand that this truly needs to be part of my

plan for a good life. Continuing down the path I am on, caring for my fellow man, and

developing several skills through volunteering for various causes, will help me feel more

fulfilled in the long run.

Religion, although fairly obvious to me, is hard to follow for various reasons. Studies

have often shown that the higher ones intelligence is, or the more education one has, the
harder it is for the person to accept the existence of a god. Over all, the more educated you

are, the more skeptical you are, these studies claim. I was born and raised as a Catholic,

while also attending non-denominational Christian churches, but as I grew up, and learned

more through both experience and schooling, I often struggled with doubt in my faith, often

failing to notice God in my life. However, reading St Augustine, I knew that these studies

didnt encompass everyone. On the contrary, St Augustine, a much celebrated philosopher,

came to know God through much contemplation, and allowed faith to guide his path.

One of the base points of Augustines philosophical argument is that everyone

wishes to be happy. As we all know, people who have what they want, are supposedly

happy, but is this true in actuality? He gets his mother to speak up for his viewpoint,

claiming, if he wishes for bad things, even if he possess them, he is unhappy(23), clarifying

that happiness only stems from possessing something truly good. He then goes on to clarify

that this good thing must always be enduring, and ought not to depend on chance, nor

subject to any misfortunes(24), as we will not always be able to possess this good thing

forever otherwise, bringing us fear of losing them, causing unhappiness. As all things of this

world are fleeting, he argues, the only thing that would make one happy is God, who is

eternal and ever abiding(25).

He goes on to say that every wise man would have the knowledge to know that not

everything that they want is in control, so since Since not all you wish can be done, wish

only what can be done(26). Augustine then goes to additionally divide ones self into a

body and soul, and claims that as the wanting of the body is hunger, the wanting of the soul
is nothing but foolishness(27). (As a side note, although he skips over the reasoning

behind why we believe that there is both a human body, and soul, I do agree with this

assumption. Most, if not all, humans are able to sense that there is another entity other

than flesh that composes who we are, giving us the capacity to make decisions, and to have

a unique personality.) Being human, however, means that one will have the temptations to

overflow this supposed wisdom, into luxuries, despotism, pride.(28). Augustine claims

that the only ways to counteract this are through the wisdom of God (which gives)

truththrough an supreme measure (29), and is therefore measure through itself(30).

I find that Augustines philosophy rings true with me on the deepest levels. Even

without mention of the fundamental principle of Christianity, that is, that Jesus died for our

sins by being crucified unjustly, Augustine truly does reflect the values of Christianity that

often seem untouched in this day and age. Without focusing on Gods punishments, or how

far weve fallen from grace, he emphasizes that as creatures always turning our faces

towards happiness, our creator has provided that for us in himself. Although this involves

giving up a bit of ourselves in the process, reminding me of the saying Let go, and let God,

isnt that what faith is all about? In this day and age, when so much philosophical argument

around Christianity centers on the (false) notion that our morality is motivated by the

afterlife, with either the reward of heaven, or the eternal punishment of hell, Augustine

provides a breath of fresh air to any Christian who reads his works. His simple arguments

that God creates us, providing for not only our bodily needs, but our souls happiness
through a relationship with him, empowers me to become stronger in my faith, keeping it

as an undercurrent throughout my entire life.

The philosophy that probably stuck out to me as the most influential this semester

though would probably be Stoicism. It was the philosophy that I did the gist presentation on

for this class, and as a result, was the one that I did the most in depth research on this

semester. The Stoics basic beliefs lay in that we should all tap into our full human potential,

our lives are laid out by a great cosmic nature, and our free will lies in the ability to judge

what happens to us either positively or negatively. Stoicism tends to be more attractive to

me than Cynicism because it allows me to utilize it in my everyday life, and it acknowledges

a divine factor. While I dont necessarily agree with the Stoic view that the divine factor

rules our lives, and robs us of the decision to decide the actions we take, it does allow us to

see how much of our perspective is simply of our own creation; positive and negative things

are often that way because we deem them so, often not containing or lacking any inherent

goodness.

I also love how Epictetus promotes living for oneself, claiming if you turn outward

to want to please another person, certainly you have lost your plan of life(31). This

recognizes my innate belief that one should value themselves above all, before they can

help or value anyone else. I personally have struggled with that at times throughout my life,

especially when it comes to trying to please my friends, so reading this was like a drink of

cool water for me. Stoicism also told me to not worry quite so much about the things that

are inherently transitory, saying acquiesce in everything that happens, and follow it
willingly(32). Although I will elaborate on this further with the Eastern philosophies, this

concept is still important for me, because I am naturally a person to worry and fret that

things will not go well. Having a reminder to take a breath and step back is necessary for me

to keep my head on straight at times.

This class has also enlightened me through introducing some of the Eastern, less-

thought of philosophies as a way to achieve the good life. The Buddhist and Taoist

philosophies, similarly to the Stoic philosophies, both show how fruitless it can be for one to

cling to material things of this world. Although I had heard a bit of both religions before, I

had never gone in depth with them, and hadnt read much of their beliefs before. They also

advocate that enlightenment, or nirvana, or reunion with the Tao, can only be achieved

through eliminating cravings. Although Buddhism tends to focus on the cessation of

suffering(33) with its Four Noble Truths, and Taoism focuses on open(ing) yourself to the

Tao(34), the basic principles are the same. The universe is going to always contain sources

of pain and suffering, and people who are able to more easily accept what happens, and

know that they cannot have a major impact, will be able to be more at peace with

themselves.

I did tend to appreciate Taoist philosophies more than Buddhist philosophies. the

Buddhist Eightfold Path was able to show several right actions to take in ones life, the Tao

Te Ching offers more universal advice for being at peace with oneself. Rather than just

having right understanding, right thought, right action, (35), etc, one is able to know

how exactly to do so through the Tao Te Ching. Simply love the world as yourself, then you
can care for all things(36). Although this sentiment is echoed in the Buddhist term

annatta, meaning no self, the Taoist equivalent doesnt deny that we are individuals. It

simply confirms that we are a part of a greater whole. Although we are constantly changing

individuals, and not permanent (or) fixed(37), as the Buddhists claim, this doesnt take

away the sum of our unique experiences and abilities that makes us who we are. However,

we have the miraculous gift to see and perceive the universe, while we are yet inside the

universe, as the Tao flows through all things, inside and outside, and returns to the origin

of all things(38). Accepting your oneness with the universe, the principle to do your work,

then step back(39) and humbly taking your spot is something that truly helps put my mind

at peace, allowing me to accept what is to come in my life more gracefully.

This can be paralleled with the Augustine beliefs in the aforementioned Christian

philosophies, in which he advocates for us to go along with Gods will, rather than imposing

our own will on the universe. Stoicism is also similar, in that they suppose that our pains are

self-imposed, and that no one but ourselves can cause them. Another belief I want to

juxtapose with this, that isnt quite as obvious to me at first glance, but has played an

important role in my life is the gain and deploying of fame.

Putting the pursuit of fame in with philosophies that advocate going along with the

higher power of the universe might seem counterintuitive at first, with the very definition

of fame seeming to tell one to make a name for oneself, despite the odds, and to be more

than simply average by sticking ones neck out. However, if one doesnt hinge ones

existence on this fame, and just sets it as a goal for a greater end, I believe these two
concepts are compatible. One obvious way to gain fame is to become a leader. Although

someone who is a leader has to be somewhat self-centered, wanting their own concepts

implemented as what they believe is best for the general welfare, a truly great leader has to

be rational, and truly aware of what is best for their people. If one comes to the conclusion

that their actions are hurting their people, the just thing would be to change their actions

(although far too often, this is not the case). A great leader, such as Cicero claims, must be

aware of the great power of fortune, which impels one in either direction, towards success

or towards adversity (40). This conclusion hints at the Roman version of the Tao, that is,

that there are things and events simply out of our power.

However, Cicero goes on to claim that the best way to get what you wish in life, is to

secure not only safely, but also influence and power, so that fear may be absent, but love

preserved(41). That is, one must care for those they influence, not acting as a tyrant or

dictator, to ensure that their viewpoints and perspectives are spread throughout those they

influence effectively. After all, one catches more flies with honey than vinegar, and

friendship with those one leads is important for their trust. Cicero went on to say that the

concept of glory lies in three things: if the masses love you, if they have faith in you, and if

they think you worthy of some honor combined with admiration (42). I would agree with

this to an extent, but I would also tell one trying to be a leader to tone down their style a

bit; I would agree with the Taoist principle that a good leader should cause this reaction in

his people: The Master doesnt talk, he acts. When his work is done, the people say,

Amazing: we did it, all by ourselves! (43). Leaders do need to simply guide their people
on the right path, directing them peacefully, rather than poking and prodding until they

succumb. This is a fine line to walk, but it can be done if one keeps both their desired

direction and the well-being of his people in mind.

Overall, fame has been a good way for me to spread my ideas further, and have

people start to care about my passions. As a leader in many organizations in the past

several years, I would be dishonest to say that spreading my ideas hasnt enriched my life

as well. However, I would also say that the idea of fame in todays culture has been blown

out of proportion. Fame isnt an end in itself, as it is fleeting, and not something to cling to,

but rather a means to allow you to leave your impact on the world, without disrupting the

natural order of things.

A few things that I completely disagree are necessary to the good life are

utilitarianism and living the kingly life. This class completely changed my viewpoint on

utilitarianism. When I first came across it, and for a few semesters afterwards, I thought the

pursuit for the sum total of happiness (44) was a convenient, and realistic way, to

accommodate the uncertainty of morality in specific situations, and ensure that everyone is

able to get a fair chance in the grand scheme of life. However, as I analyzed this further, I

realized that the very concept of utilitarianism marginalizes minorities, making their

opinions irrelevant for the good of all, and potentially hurts lots of individuals, which goes

against my libertarian ideals of individual choice. Although I see how their philosophies are

appealing to so many, it ignores lots of the factors that needs to be considered in morality,

and in turn, in living a good life. The greater good, aka utility, is far from the only thing that
defines morality. On the other side, I simply find that the kingly life is also incredibly

narrow-minded, with building honor for ones family, as well as wealth. These two concepts

are things that I have never cared about, and consequently was something that I didnt take

into consideration when making this good life plan. Making meaningful relationships and

having great experiences are the foundation of life, not things that ultimately fade when

your lineage does.

One final note, that Im not able to connect to the readings that we did this

semester, is that there is something to be said for physical pleasures in this life. Although

they are definitely not the most important thing in this life, as physical bodies fade long

before our spirit does, we have our bodies for a reason, and we should enjoy having them.

First and foremost, physical pleasure for me can be found in sensory experiences, from

tasting a great meal, to listening to great music, to beholding the beauty of the fall leaves.

Were lucky enough to behold the universe that were a part of, so we should embrace this

as a true privilege in our lives. Furthermore, other physical pleasures, such as hiking,

climbing mountains, and playing athletic games with friends also brings a sense of innate

satisfaction to myself, and many others, and shouldnt be shrugged off as unnecessary.

Finally, physical actions in the context of a relationship, especially intimate relations, are

often necessary in the context of a relationship, when two people have mutual attraction

for each other. All of these things enrich, rather than detract, from my life, as long as they

are done in moderation, and they should not be excluded from this plan for my future.
 Ultimately, the recipe to a good life is complicated, and definitely cant be found in a

common self-help book. One must spend many hours in quiet contemplations, lively

discussions with other philosophically minded people, and reading the works of the

philosophers who came before them. Combining knowledge gleaned from my own

experiences and reflections with wisdom discovered throughout the ages about what is

considered good to have in life, allowed me to ensure that my path throughout life will be

turned into a better, more reflective and responsive life. With friends, love, self-reflection,

Christianity and its values, knowing when to let go of transitory things, making my impact

on the world, knowing how to take responsibility for ones actions, and overall, just living

life to the fullest, I will be fully equipped for the troubles and turmoil life will throw my way,

and be able to bounce back into happiness time and time again.
 References (all from assigned class material)

1. Montaigne- A Friend I Can Not Forget, p. 42, Paragraph 3.

2. Montaigne- A Friend I Can Not Forget, p. 42, Paragraph 4

3. Montaigne-A Friend I Can Not Forget, p. 42-43, Paragraph 4

4. Montaigne-A Friend I Can Not Forget, p. 40, Paragraph 6

5. Montaigne-A Friend I Can Not Forget, p. 39, Paragraph 3

6. Montaigne-A Friend I Can Not Forget, p. 42, Paragraph 4

7. Montaigne-A Friend I Can Not Forget, p. 41, Paragraph 2

8. Montaigne-A Friend I Can Not Forget, p. 41, Paragraph 2

9. Montaigne-A Friend I Can Not Forget, p. 41-42, Paragraph 3

10. Plato-Symposium, p. 121, Section 181-b

11. Plato-Symposium, p. 121, Section 181-c

12. Plato-Symposium, p. 124, Section 183-e

13. Plato-Symposium, p. 124, Section 183-e

14. Plato-Symposium, p. 124, Section 183-e

15. Socrates/Plato- Crito, p. 3, Section 47-a

16. Socrates/Plato- Crito, p. 3, Section 46-b

17. Nicomachean Ethics- Aristotle, p. 10, Paragraph 3

18. Nicomachean Ethics- Aristotle, p. 11, Paragraph 1

19. Nicomachean Ethics- Aristotle, p. 11, Paragraph 1

20. Nicomachean Ethics- Aristotle, p. 11, Paragraph 1

21. Nicomachean Ethics- Aristotle, p. 13, Paragraph 2

22. Nicomachean Ethics- Aristotle, p. 13, Paragraph 2

23. St. Augustine-The Happy Life, p. 303, Paragraph 6

24. St. Augustine-The Happy Life, p. 304, Paragraph 7

25. St. Augustine-The Happy Life, p. 304, Paragraph 21

26. St Augustine-De Beata Vita, p. 73, Paragraph 3

27. St Augustine-De Beata Vita, p. 76, Paragraph 2

28. St Augustine-De Beata Vita, p. 81, Paragraph 3

29. St Augustine-De Beata Vita, p. 82, Paragraph 2

30. St Augustine-De Beata Vita, p. 82, Paragraph 2

31. Epictetus- The Handbook, Section 23

32. Epictetus- The Handbook, Section 31

33. The Four Noble Truths- Truth 3

34. Tao Te Ching- Section 23

35. The Four Noble Truths- The Eightfold Path

36. Tao Te Ching- Section 13

37. The Four Noble Truths- The Three Marks of Existence

38. Tao Te Ching- Section 25

39. Tao Te Ching- Section 9

40. Cicero, On Duties, p. 69, Section 19

41. Cicero, On Duties, p. 71, Section 24

42. Cicero, On Duties, p. 74, Section 31

43. Tao Te Ching- Section 17

44. Mill, Ch 2, Utilitarianism, p. 8, Paragraph 3