The account of the best life for humans - a happy or flourishing life - was the central theme of ancient ethics. This book explores the less-examined ancient theme of what constitutes a life worth living, and reconstructs philosophical engagements with that theme from Socrates to Plotinus.

"This book is a first systematic study of ancient views about what it takes to have a life at least barely worth living. It is of interest to specialists in ancient philosophy as well as to philosophers working on related themes, such as the ethics of procreation, from contemporary perspective"--