What is a good life? What can it be, not only for the individual but for society as a whole? What values should we orient ourselves towards? These questions are recurring philosophical and political themes that arise particularly in times of crisis and are often debated controversially. The author compares two concepts that originate from different cultural and ethical contexts. One example of the modern good life is Amartya Sen's capability approach, which defines the greatest possible degree of personal freedom and opportunities as its ultimate goal. In contrast, there is the guiding principle of Ecuador's current constitution, Buen Vivir (Spanish: good life or living well). This principle is based on the cosmovision of the Ecuadorian Kichwa, which is referred to in their language as Sumak Kawsay (Kichwa: life in abundance).