For the Sake of the Final End: Eudaimonism, Self-Orientation, and the Nature of Human Agency
The question of the viability of theological eudaimonism as an interpretation of the moral life has generated increasing debate in recent years. This essay aims to advance the debate about theological eudaimonism (and eudaimonism more generally) by addressing a closely related but insufficiently dis...
| Published in: | Journal of religious ethics |
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| Main Author: | |
| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
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| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
Wiley-Blackwell
[2020]
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| In: |
Journal of religious ethics
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| Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains: | B
Eudämonismus
/ Mensch
/ Egozentrismus
/ Handlung
/ Moralische Entwicklung
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| RelBib Classification: | AB Philosophy of religion; criticism of religion; atheism CH Christianity and Society NCA Ethics NCB Personal ethics |
| Further subjects: | B
Happiness
B Nicholas Wolterstorff B Agency B Eudaimonism B final end B self-orientation B Thomas Aquinas B Elizabeth Anderson |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (Verlag) Volltext (doi) |
| Summary: | The question of the viability of theological eudaimonism as an interpretation of the moral life has generated increasing debate in recent years. This essay aims to advance the debate about theological eudaimonism (and eudaimonism more generally) by addressing a closely related but insufficiently discussed issue: the nature of human agency and its relationship to value. The most commonly raised objection to eudaimonism is that it is objectionably agent-oriented. I argue that worries about objectionable self-orientation often stem from importing foreign pictures of agency into the eudaimonist tradition. I make this case through an analysis of Nicholas Wolterstorff’s recent critique of eudaimonism. Wolterstorff presupposes a common contemporary conception of agency. Drawing on Thomas Aquinas and Elizabeth Anderson, I show that other conceptions of agency are available. Clarity about the nature of human agency and its relationship to value will bring greater clarity to the debate about eudaimonism and self-orientation. |
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| ISSN: | 1467-9795 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: Journal of religious ethics
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1111/jore.12305 |