Our modern world has also shown us that human actions have much more far-reaching and complex effects than have been previously thought. We have become so aware of these complexities, in fact, that in our most rational moments we human beings can admit that we do not know the full range of effects that our actions are having on the world. Because of this, leading the good life must also entail trying to limit the unknown and potentially negative impacts of our actions both on the environment and through all of our use and expenditure of the resources we use. Achieving the highest possible level of self-sufficiency is the most effective way to achieve this, and thus finding ways to accomplish all necessary tasks with minimal dependence on other entities and resources is necessary.
The most complex goal that human beings must strive for in order to achieve the good life is their own personal fulfillment. It is here that the uniquely human aspect of Aristotle's framework comes into play: the seeking some sense of "inner fulfillment" appears to be a uniquely human trait, and it truly seems as though there must be a moral imperative to live in a way that attempts to satisfy this drive, or else why would it exist in every...
While the other areas of the good life are about limiting the negative impacts that our presence and actions have on the world and those around us, this component is about contributing both to the world and to the self by performing fulfilling actions and refining and enhancing one's ability in areas of activity that they enjoy.
The three considerations to leading the good life, then, are: refraining from harm, becoming self-efficient, and becoming happy through fulfilling action. These three considerations should also be taken in this order; that is, one should not find a way to become self-sufficient that involves harming others (though it is hard to say what this might be), and one should not seek fulfillment through activities that are unnecessarily wasteful and fail to contribute. By keeping these three considerations in mind, however, and seeking to contribute in a fulfilling manner with increasing self-sufficiency and a lack of harm to others, the good life can be achieved.
