The Good Life according to Rubem Alves

Abstract

This paper will examine Rubem Alves' concept of “good life”, through a literature review. Alves' eudaimonistic ethics can be found in his theology of human hope and, in a sparse way, in his late theopoetic texts. After his disenchantment with the great political utopias, Alves started to develop insights on how to live a good life in a way, at the same time, aware of the pain and, even so, hopeful. This research will consider the different phases of Alves' thinking and how he dialogues with other thinkers on three major themes: the meaning of life, suffering and the virtues necessary to live a meaningful life. This article shows how Alves tries to balance the perception of the transience and harshness of life with the concept that life needs to be lived with pleasure and desire, but without falling into hedonism.