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“How to lead our lives?” Advance directives (ads) in an Aristotelian approach: An essay

Authors

  • José Dimas D’Avila Maciel Monteiro University of Porto
  • Elcio Luiz Bonamigo University of the West of Santa Catarina
  • Rui Nunes University of Porto
Vol. 32 No. 1 (2026): DESAFÍOS ÉTICOS EN LA SOCIEDAD DIGITAL
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Abstract

The question “how to lead our lives?” is a question about which life to live and is at the center of Aristotle’s ethical investigations in Nicomachean Ethics. Such a question seems not to get old, particularly when we express, in advance, decisions about future medical care to consent to or refuse, in advance directives (ADs), when we are unable to decide. The purpose of this investigation is to philosophically approach ADs from the question “how to lead our lives?”, admitting three possible approaches to aspects of Aristotle's ethical investigation: 1st) emotions and ADs; 2nd) deliberation, deliberate choice, phronesis and ADs; 3rd) “How to lead our lives?” and ADs. It is concluded that a) the purpose of human life, according to Aristotle, is not simply to live, but to live humanly; b) the answer to the question “how to lead our lives?”, considering the categories of happiness (eudaimonia), emotions, virtues, practical wisdom (phronesis), deliberation, deliberate choice, and action, also involves the answer to the question about death and dying; c) Aristotle's ethical investigation may be an alternative, although limited, to address ADs without the necessary appeal to moral rules. Keywords: Bioethics, advance directives, personal autonomy, deliberation

Keywords:

Bioethics, advance directives, personal autonomy, deliberation
How to Cite
Maciel Monteiro, J. D. D., Bonamigo, E. L. ., & Nunes, R. . (2026). “How to lead our lives?” Advance directives (ads) in an Aristotelian approach: An essay. Acta Bioethica, 32(1), 9–18. Retrieved from https://actabioethica.uchile.cl/index.php/AB/article/view/83392
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Acta Bioethica
Centro Interdisciplinario de Estudios en Bioética
Universidad de Chile
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