The Good Enough Life

This book explores the nature of the good life through an ethnography of people in a small Irish town and philosophical discussions from Western tradition. It reveals how ordinary people can live a fulfilling life by creating community as a deliberate and social project. Anthropology and philosophy can complement one another in an enquiry into what we might accomplish in our lives.

Format: Unspecified
Length: 300 pages
Publication date: 24 November 2023
Publisher: John Wiley and Sons Ltd

This remarkable book delves into the depths of human existence, offering a thought-provoking exploration of what life could and should be. It seamlessly combines a philosophical inquiry into the essence of the good life with an in-depth ethnography of individuals residing in a small Irish town. Through meticulous attention to the daily lives of these people, the ethnographic chapters delve into a wide range of topics, including freedom, inequality, community formation, and the purpose of life. These chapters are interspersed with engaging discussions of similar themes by renowned philosophers from the Western tradition, spanning from Socrates and the Stoics to Kant, Hegel, and Heidegger, as well as Adorno, Rawls, MacIntyre, and Nussbaum.

As an ethnography, this book showcases the immense value of respectfully acknowledging the achievements of ordinary, modest individuals. By establishing a community as a deliberate and social endeavor that serves as the foundation for a more fulfilling life, where affluence has not resulted in an increase in individualism, the people in this town have discovered a way to live a good enough life. Moreover, the book demonstrates how anthropology and philosophy can complement and enhance one another in an inquiry into what we can accomplish in our lives.

This thought-provoking exploration of human existence invites readers to contemplate the possibilities of a better world and encourages them to strive for a life that is both meaningful and fulfilling. Through its interdisciplinary approach, this book provides a valuable contribution to the fields of philosophy, anthropology, and social science, offering insights that will resonate with scholars and thinkers alike.

Weight: 626g
Dimension: 159 x 237 x 26 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781509559640