Human flourishing
The field of ethics invites us to reflect carefully on we most deeply value and what we most want out of life. In doing ethics, in addition to thinking broadly about human flourishing, each of us asks, What does human flourishing look like for me personally? What should I do with the finite amount of time that I have on this Earth? What should I value? What kind of person should I be? Our final essay assignment involves reflecting on such questions.
Your essay should be at least 800 words in length. There is no maximum; the essay can be as long as you like.
Choose ONE topic to write about. No need to have references. Your topic options are:
A. What kinds of activities do you want to be a regular part of your life, and what draws you to those activities? (Examples of activities discussed by former students include learning, drawing, writing, cooking, reading, raising children, working to foster equity and human rights, meditation or prayer, hiking and camping, playing basketball, fly fishing, woodworking, sharing meals with loved ones, and traveling.)
B. What kinds of character traits would you like to strengthen, and what might you do to strengthen such character traits? (Examples of character traits discussed by former students include wisdom, love, courage, compassion, resilience, generosity, mindfulness, creativity, self-love, self-awareness, spiritual depth, and a growth-oriented approach to life.)
C. What does genuine friendship mean to you personally, and what qualities do you most value in close friends? (Examples of qualities discussed by former students include attentiveness, joy, open-mindedness, creativity, empathy, spontaneity, trustworthiness, a sense of humor, a love of learning, aesthetic sensitivity, and the ability to share experiences in silence.
D. What sorts of physical surroundings do you most desire, and why? (Examples of physical surroundings discussed by former students include surroundings characterized by artwork, indoor plants, outdoor trees and/or woods, creative architecture, an absence of noise pollution, nearby centers of cultural activity, walking or biking trails, and bodies of water such as lakes or rivers.)
