Narrating the good life: illuminations

At present, the Western world is characterized by several profound crises which have meant many redefinitions of people's lifeworlds. If the crises are not a question of material reproduction but of cultural reproduction, it is imperative to know how people interpret their ordinary lives and what their conceptions of the good life are. In this article the question of the good life is dealt with from two different perspectives. The first source of discussion comes from theoretical texts. The second sources of discussion, or empirical illuminations, are adult learners' written narratives about their conceptions and meanings of the good life and how they tell about it. In conclusion, the future of adult education on the basis of preceding discussion will be considered.