In this enlightening discussion, philosophers Meghan Sullivan and Paul Blaschko from the University of Notre Dame share insights from their book on living a meaningful life. They explore virtue ethics and the significance of intentions, emphasizing the balance between love and work. The duo highlights the art of asking 'strong questions' to foster deep conversations and truth-seeking. They also delve into the concepts of eudaimonia, moral identity, and the vital role of attention in nurturing relationships, weaving ancient wisdom into modern life.
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Virtue Ethics: A Self-Improvement System
Virtue ethics is a 2,500-year-old self-improvement system.
It focuses on developing traits that help you fulfill your function as a human.
insights INSIGHT
Aristotle's Focus on Human Function
Aristotle, a key figure in virtue ethics, believed the purpose of human life is central to ethical questions.
He suggests examining what makes humans unique, like our ability to reason, to determine our function.
insights INSIGHT
Eudaimonia: Flourishing Through Reason
Human flourishing (eudaimonia) involves using reason to reflect on and make decisions about the good life.
Aristotle believed achieving eudaimonia requires using our capacity for reason.
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The Road is set in a world that has been devastated by an unspecified cataclysmic event, resulting in the extinction of nearly all life on Earth. The story follows an unnamed father and his young son as they travel south along the road, carrying their meager possessions and a pistol with only two bullets. The father, suffering from a worsening respiratory condition, is determined to protect his son from the dangers of their new world, including cannibalistic marauders. Along their journey, they encounter various survivors, some of whom are cruel and others who show kindness. The novel explores themes of love, survival, and the preservation of humanity in a world devoid of hope. Ultimately, the father's health fails, and he dies, but not before ensuring his son's safety with a new family who may offer a chance for a better future[2][3][4].
Nicomachean Ethics
Aristotle
The Nicomachean Ethics is Aristotle's most renowned work on ethics, focusing on the science of the good for human life. The text is divided into ten books and discusses the concept of eudaimonia, often translated as 'happiness' or 'flourishing,' which is achieved through living a virtuous life. Aristotle argues that eudaimonia is an activity of the soul in accordance with virtue, emphasizing the importance of reason, moral virtues, and the pursuit of excellence. The work also explores the division of the soul, the role of rationality in human life, and the ultimate goal of human activity, which is to achieve happiness through virtuous actions and a complete life[1][2][4].
After Virtue
Alistair McIntyre
Alasdair MacIntyre's "After Virtue" is a highly influential work in moral philosophy that critiques modern ethical theories and proposes a return to virtue ethics. MacIntyre argues that modern moral philosophy has lost its way, leading to a fragmented and incoherent understanding of morality. He traces the historical development of ethical thought, identifying the decline of virtue ethics and the rise of emotivism and other relativistic approaches. MacIntyre proposes a revival of virtue ethics grounded in the Aristotelian tradition, emphasizing the importance of character development and the cultivation of virtuous dispositions. His work has had a profound impact on contemporary ethical debates, inspiring renewed interest in virtue ethics and its application to various social and political issues.
The Good Life Method: Reasoning Through the Big Questions of Happiness, Faith, and Meaning
Paul Blaschko
Meghan Sullivan
In 'The Good Life Method,' Meghan Sullivan and Paul Blaschko draw from their influential undergraduate course 'God and the Good Life' to help readers wrestle with fundamental questions about living a meaningful life. The book applies timeless philosophical wisdom from figures like Aristotle, Plato, Marcus Aurelius, Iris Murdoch, and W. E. B. Du Bois to real-world issues such as love, finance, truth, and more. It includes practical exercises and personal narratives to assist readers in exploring their deepest goals, suffering, the nature of death, and the existence of God.
Note: This is a rebroadcast.
Most everyone wants to live a good, meaningful life, though we don’t always know what that means and how to do it. Plenty of modern self-improvement programs claim to point people in the right direction, but many of the best answers were already offered more than two thousand years ago.
My guests have gleaned the cream of this orienting, ancient-yet-evergreen advice from history’s philosophers and shared it in their new book, The Good Life Method: Reasoning Through the Big Questions of Happiness, Faith, and Meaning. Their names are Meghan Sullivan and Paul Blaschko, and they’re professors of philosophy at the University of Notre Dame. Today on the show Meghan and Paul introduce us to the world of virtue ethics — an approach to philosophy that examines the nature of the good life, the values and habits that lead to excellence, and how to find and fulfill your purpose as a human being. We discuss how to seek truth with other people by asking them three levels of what they call “strong questions” and engaging in civil and fruitful dialogue. We then delve into why your intentions matter and why you should use “morally thick” language. We also examine the role that work and love has to play in pursuing the good life, and how the latter is very much about attention. We end our conversation with how a life of eudaimonia — full human flourishing — requires balancing action with contemplation.
The Art of Manliness 
