The Pursuit of Happiness: Human Flourishing and Christian Ethics

People are still interested in “happiness,” in living a flourishing life. Classical (ancient and medieval) philosophers and theologians identified the pursuit of happiness as the central concern of ethics. Yet today evangelicals and others who hold traditional moral values typically see considerations of happiness and morality as incompatible. Ethics is about rules and restrictions rather than living a flourishing life. I regard this massive shift in ethical thinking as a mistake. It cuts us off from our moral tradition, eviscerates the heritage we seek to pass on to the next generation, and disengages us from vast common ground we share with unbelievers. In this talk we begin a conversation about these matters, examining the nature of a flourishing-oriented ethic and exploring its possibilities for moral theology and apologetics.