Philosopher Derek Parfit on the nature of the good life

What is best for people is a composite. It is not just their being in the conscious states that they want to be in. Nor is it just their having knowledge, engaging in rational activity, being aware of true beauty and the like… Each side put forward as sufficient something that was only necessary. Pleasure with many other kinds of object has no value. And, if they are entirely devoid of pleasure, there is no value in knowledge, rational activity, love or awareness of beauty. What is of value, or is good for someone, is to have both: To be engaged in these activities, and to be strongly wanting to do so (Derek Parfit, Reasons and Persons)