Senior Seminar

Discussion Questions: Chris Cuomo, So As To Flourish

1.     In the introduction “Why Flourishing” what are Flourishing ethics and how ought to use them? “Ethics implies human flourishing both logically and practically.”(61) Do you agree or disagree?

2.     “If an ethic does not aim toward and prioritize the flourishing of moral agents and entities upon which they rely…. What good is it?” (65) What are the pertinent points to an ethic that prioritizes flourishing?

3.     Cuomo outlines 4 main points of Aristotle’s logic that ‘seems’ questionable (67) “…Reject what it means to be human is to be rational – and that goodness is just the best expression of rational selves.” And “Promoting the good of a nonhuman entity amounts to promoting what is good for it” (68) Contrast these differing points of view. 

4.     The idea of hierarchies in value appears several times throughout this argument. Including the idea that the more suffering you endure the more you may matter (70) Do you think hierarchies exist in ethics and environmental ethics, and should they? Does suffering make you matter more then someone who hasn’t suffered?

5.     When discussing Dynamic charm, what place does perceptions play in establishing value in (flourishing) ethics is this significant? How is this a determining factor for flourishing?

6.     What is Flourishing? Can things flourish independently or do they require a community aspect in order to flourish?

7.     The idea of Autonomy and self-realization of non-human entities is purposed like the idea of self-realization in Arne Naess’s Deep Ecology. Including the idea of autonomy in a community, however deep ecology is criticized for lack of focus on the human interactions as important. Discuss

8.     What does it mean to be human and what does oppression have to do with human flourishing in this argument?  Does it increase with greater amounts of free expression and autonomy?