Exploring non-western philosophies

As we have discussed throughout this course, the concept of “a good life” is a value-laden one. Everyone has a different idea about what is involved in living a good life and these ideas can be strongly influenced by our social, cultural and historical contexts.

In the video in this step, Associate Professor Karyn Lai from UNSW Australia talks about the differences between the Western and Chinese conceptions of a good life. In particular, Karyn emphasises that in Chinese philosophy thinking about a good life means understanding that change is imminent and that we live in a plural world. As Karyn explains, these two factors mean that living a good life from a Confucius perspective is about cultivating relationships and connections to support you through inevitable change.

Karyn also explains how Daoism in particular asks people to find a good life by looking at what they have — their bodies, their capabilities and their materials —- and starting from there to develop a good life. Living a good life, then, is a journey; it is a dynamic process which moves out from each person’s concrete “allotment”. This is in stark contrast to the Western ideas around a good life which start with an ideal, towards which people aspire.

Talking Points

• What did you find particularly interesting about Karyn’s discussion of a good life?
• Can you imagine how some of these ideas from Chinese philosophies could be applied to thinking about a good life in the context of disability?