The Thomistic Institute Leaving Loneliness, Building Friendship, and Fostering Human Flourishing | Professor Scott Cleveland
Dec 29, 2023
Prof. Scott Cleveland discusses the importance of pursuing human flourishing and building good friendships. He explores Aristotle's concept of the final end and the limitations of sensory pleasure. The podcast delves into different views of friendship and the good life, emphasizing the importance of virtues and true fulfillment. It also discusses spiritual apathy, the destructive nature of envy, and ways to foster charity and cultivate friendship.
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Flourishing Through Virtuous Reason
- Human flourishing depends on performing our characteristic activity—using reason—well, engaging in virtuous activity.
- Happiness is a life characterized by such rational and virtuous activity, naturally pursued with friends.
Types of Friendship Defined
- Aristotle identifies three kinds of friendship: utility, pleasure, and complete (virtuous) friendships.
- Only complete friendships are based on mutual love for the other's character, are rare, and long lasting.
Character Shapes Friendship
- The kind of friends we attract and become depends on our ultimate life goals and character.
- Living for what is genuinely good draws us toward like-minded virtuous friends and mutual flourishing.