What Does the Dream of Perfection Do to Us? Examining the Value of Life in Philosophy and Society

The notion that certain lives are not worth living, a concept seemingly at odds with the Enlightenment's ideals, persists and finds roots in Western philosophical traditions. Jan Grue, a writer and professor at the University of Oslo, explores this enduring idea, questioning what the relentless pursuit of perfection does to us.

Grue references the poignant question posed by Socrates to his friend Crito the night before his execution: Is life worth living with a "body that is ruined and in bad shape?" Plato's account of this exchange, while highlighting ethical courage, also embeds a deeply ingrained assumption: that some bodies, and consequently some lives, are inherently less valuable than others. This perspective has proven remarkably resilient over time.

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Is life worth living with a body that is ruined and in bad shape?

Further exploring this theme, Grue points to Aristotle's concept of "eudaimonia," often translated as the good life or human flourishing. Aristotle defined this ideal life by the qualities he considered natural for a mature, free man, encompassing moral, social, and physiological attributes. This philosophical framework, originating in antiquity, has shaped Western thought on value and human worth for centuries, raising questions about its continued influence and implications in contemporary society.

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eudaimonia