What is Goodness?

What does it mean to live a good life? That's a question wise people have been asking for generations! The classical tradition encourages us to pursue "the Good." But what does that mean, and how do we do it? In Episode 1 of our series on the Good, the True, and the Beautiful, history teacher Sarah Shotwell explains the philosophy behind "the Good" and describes how we can seek it in our modern lives.  Audience: 5th Grade to Adult Key Takeaway (1:18): “Aristotle taught we could seek the Good - and thus, happiness - by practicing virtues. For the ancient Greeks, the four virtues valued most were: Courage, or Fortitude; Prudence, or Wisdom (the ability to draw on the knowledge of the past to discern right actions, think ahead, and make properly reasoned choices); Self-discipline, or Temperance; and Justice (balance and rightness of thought and action for the good of those around you).” For practical tips on how to practice the virtues with kids, check out our companion Down Home blog post at https://sloclassical.org/2021/10/24/practicing-the-good-temperance/ Thank you to photographer Lindsay Hamill and musical artist Margot Polo for your beautiful contributions to this series!