The Art of Living: Hygiene, Ethics, and Meaning

The fundamental drive in animal life is to perpetuate the species through its members, preserved thanks to ingenious mechanisms. In humans, however, life transcends mere biological perpetuation. As biologists and zoologists study the mechanisms of survival, human life reveals a dimension requiring a symbolic existence.

Mankind yearns for something more difficult and risky: the perpetuation and spread of the unique individual. Saint Augustine said that man represents a new beginning, a model defined by singularities.

For Hegel, the task of life is to "think" – to think about life in order to value actions.

Can We Speak of an Art of Life?

We call "art" a skill practiced in a particular field, whose general principles can be learned. However, its highest levels of excellence often lack precise rules and can only be admired in the exercise of certain outstanding individuals. Once learned, an art is not yet fully mastered.

If we accept the concept of an "art of living," it can be seen as having two closely linked parts:

• The first: The maintenance, enjoyment, and repair of our body, which could be called hygiene.
• The second: Dealing with the demands and commitments entailed in the recognition of the humanity of our fellows, so that they in turn confirm our own. This part is called ethics.

Values and Standards

Like any art, the art of living involves discerning between different modes of action and value.

Art sets within its field an axiology (defining what is good, what is wrong, the best, and the worst, etc.) and a deontology (defining what should be done in every case and how it should be done). It establishes recognized values and standards.

Understanding Good and Evil

Good and evil, when used in absolute terms, lack practical meaning or guidance. They become meaningful and useful only when considered in relation to something. Instead of simply saying "right" or "wrong," it is more precise to say "good for..." or "bad for..."

The same thing can be good in relation to some and bad in relation to others.

Instinct vs. Human Choice

To find what they find valuable and avoid evil, animals rely on their instincts. Humans, however, strive to develop a way of life that guides their constant choices.

The life we try to preserve and perpetuate is not just a biological process but a becoming of symbols intertwined in the form of memory, community, code, and visions of the future. It is an endeavor to find meaning in every gesture, every stumble.