Human Flourishing: A Lesson Summary PDF

Human Flourishing Human Flourishing  A state of being happy, healthy or prosperous  A state where people experience positive emotions and positive social functioning What is your definition of happiness? When was the last time you feel happy and how did you feel? Gi...

Human Flourishing Human Flourishing  A state of being happy, healthy or prosperous  A state where people experience positive emotions and positive social functioning What is your definition of happiness? When was the last time you feel happy and how did you feel? Give a situation in your life that you feel down/miserable and what did you do to overcome it?  What is Human Flourishing? Based on ancient Greek Philosopher’s Perspective  The Greek philosophers called a flourishing life eudaimonia.  Eudaimonia is usually equated with happiness Plato Aristotle  For Plato and Aristotle, happiness is the results of eudaimonia or human flourishing Eudaimonia or Happiness Human Flourishing Human Flourishing: Based on ancient Greek Philosopher’s Perspective  All human beings naturally desire eudaimonia or human flourishing  Plato believed that in order to flourish, one must have moral thought, and virtuous action. In this case, virtue is Plato referred to as “excellence”  The well-being of human individual must NOT depend on external goods (such fame, wealth and appearance). To live just for these sake will not lead to flourishing  Virtue is needed in order to flourish According to Plato, a human being can develop virtue 1. By examining things and thinking more - Plato believed that a human being who does not examine his or her life and surroundings will not flourish. He said that humans can reason and must use it to become wiser in order to flourish  According to Plato, a human being can develop virtue 2. By masterly using reasons - Plato believed that a human is good if he or she uses his or her reason over his desires. - If a human is able to control one’s self through reason and act for the common good, then he or she will flourish According to Plato, a human being can develop virtue 3. By living the four cardinal virtues Plato believed that there are four cardinal virtues - Wisdom - Courage - Temperance - Justice Virtue of Wisdom – one must pursue learning that is based on curiosity. This will lead to more efficacy and self-mastery which are needed to have a fulfilling life Courage and justice – Courage is important in a just society because justice needs courageous individuals to stand what is right and to correct what is wrong Courage is also needed in order to face life’s challenges Temperance or Self-restraint – is important in society because it prevents corruption and chaos A man without temperance will nor flourish because lack of self-restraints can lead to vices and violence Human Flourishing: Based on ancient Greek Philosopher’s Perspective  Aristotle argued that eudaimonia or human flourishing is the highest good of human beings  Understanding the behavior of human (strength and weakness), their nature, Aristotle values, needs and how to cater these is an essential tool to have a FLOURISHING LIFE  Human nature, according to Aristotle has four aspects, physical, emotional, social and rational Humans are physical beings As physical beings, humans need air, water, food, rest, and exercise to keep the body functional Humans are emotional beings Like other animals, humans have urges, wants, desires and reactions. Humans have emotional needs too Humans are social beings As social beings, it is inherit that humans need friendship, cooperation and a sense of belongingness in the society Humans are rational beings Rationality is what differentiate humans from animals. Rationality allows human to express, be creative and obey reason  How does one become more virtuous? For Aristotle, a virtue is a character traits that enables a person to flourish Humans through reason seek knowledge about the world. He believed that by gaining knowledge, humans will flourish. He called this “intellectual virtue”  There are two types of knowledge  Theoretical knowledge – the knowledge about the nature of principles  Practical knowledge – knowledge of applying these principles Theoretical knowledge allows us to manipulate nature, however, without practical knowledge, it cannot be actually done. Knowledge is important in life, but it is the application of this knowledge that leads to flourishing  How does one become more virtuous? Aside from intellectual virtues, the other virtue in life is the virtue of character Aristotle believed that in order to flourish, one must possess the 11 virtuous traits: - Courage (lakas ng loob) - Magnificence(Kadakilaan) - Temperance (pagtitimpi) - Patience (pasensya) - Magnanimity (kagandaang-loob) - Liberality (Kalayaan) - Wittiness - Truthfulness - Justice - Friendliness - Shame How does one become more virtuous? According to Aristotle, all virtues are connected by phronesis or “practical wisdom”. It enables individual to apply the appropriate virtue in a particular situation A virtuous life can be attained through education and habit  How does one become more virtuous? In summary, when an individual possesses intellectual virtues and virtues of character, then he will attain eudaimonia or human flourishing Intellectual Virtues of Eudaimonia or Virtues character Human flourishing Human Flourishing: A Modern World Concept  In Psychology, happiness and life satisfaction, mental and physical health, meaning and purpose, character and virtue, close social relationships and financial and material stability are all components of human flourishing  What is “Human Flourishing’? 1. Flourishing is intrinsically worthwhile - Flourishing is an intrinsic good, and that flourishing is worth striving for 2. The actualization of the human potential -Human flourishing is when an individual is optimally using his or her potential and capabilities -This is relative because every individual has different potentials and encounter different possibilities. Hence, different individual’s level of flourishing cannot be compared  Criteria for Human Flourishing A. Life as a whole In considering an individual’s flourishing, his whole life must be considered. The totally of human life, not just some parts. B. Human Flourishing is a dynamic state It requires on-going developmental process to actualize the human potentials C. Objective Good There are goods for everybody, such as good relationships. These objective goods if develop will contribute to human flourishing.