The Spiritual Aspect of Human Well-Being and the Importance of Communities

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The author believes that objective well-being includes a spiritual aspect. They also emphasize the importance of subjective well-being and believe that flourishing involves all aspects of a person's life, including their environment and community. They argue for a communal approach to happiness, rather than solely focusing on individual desires. The author then discusses the role of reason and science in societal progress and questions whether we rely too heavily on them.

Today, you may be wrestling with what "progress" means — whether it's in relation to your own journey, your family’s, or your community’s. What do you want? And how will you get there?

In this episode, two Harvard professors explore these questions. In this 40-minute Forum excerpt, you’ll hear first from Tyler VanderWeele, the director of Harvard’s Human Flourishing Program. Tyler is in dialogue with Steven Pinker, a cognitive psychologist at Harvard and author of the best-selling book, Enlightenment Now. Tyler and Steven discuss their differing beliefs about what it means to be human, the role of faith in human flourishing, and if humanity tends towards dystopia or utopia. Their discussion is moderated by Rosalind Picard, a professor at MIT’s Media Lab and an inventor. This Forum was held on MIT's campus in Spring 2023.

Watch the full forum here.
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