Hope
September 10th, 2009 at 8:17
Hello everyone. My name is Hope May. I am a professor of philosophy (specializing in ancient philosophy) and recently completed my J.D. degree. I recently authored a book “Aristotle’s Ethics: Moral Development & Human Nature” in which I argue for an interpretation of Aristotle’s ethics that is compatible with a view of autonomy that one finds in a theory of motivation called “Self-Determination Theory”. Put most simply, I am interested in the neurobiology of flourishing and optimal experience. Deeply influenced by the ideas of Mihalyi Csikszentmihayi, I would like to understand what, neurobiologically, is beneath feelings of “flow”, “intrinsic motivation” and the feeling of knowing. Aristotle claimed that the purpose of law is to promote human flourishing and I whole heartedly agree. I think that human rights law should absolutely take into account the ideas of flourishing put forth by Aristotle and his modern voice, Csikszentmihalyi. Anyway, I am interested in this class for the aforementioned reasons and also because I am interested in the potential of the internet to promote human flourishing — because you see, for both Aristotle and Csikszentmihayi, knowledge, mastery, and a fellowship of inquiry are essential components of flourishing. P.S. I do an internet radio show everyweek with my students. You can listen on the archives at itunes or live via blogtalk radio at 7pm EST. Tonight we are doing a show on the ideas of Walter Ong. If you do not know who he is, listen because he is very cool! The website of the show is:
September 10th, 2009 at 1:09 pm
Hi Hope,
I was wondering if you could direct me to some resources that explore the concept of human flourishing as it pertains to the use of pharmaceuticals for non-medical purposes. I’m currently writing a paper on cognitive enhancement as it relates to issues of authenticity and identity and would love to know if Aristotle (or Csikszentmihalyi) has given any thought to this phenomenon.
I find your philosophical studies very interesting and I look forward to reading your blog posts.
Best wishes,
Kevin
September 10th, 2009 at 3:40 pm
Hi, Hope! I’m glad to see you here!!! Welcome aboard!
I loved your book’s theme (I’m definitively going to buy it and also check Csikszentmihalyi’s work).
I was wondering if there is a connection between human flourishing and Positive Psychology, which focuses on the study of “what goes right in life, from birth do death and at all stops in between”, as Christopher Peterson explained. Positive Psychology was founded by Martin Seligman, a former president of American Psychology Association, in 90′s. I’ve been thinking about a possible relation between positive psychology and law lately, and the concept of eudaimonia, in ancient greek philosophy, could be very enlightening and a good point of contact… Something to think about…
September 10th, 2009 at 3:45 pm
I was reading my positive psychology book and found out the following comment:
“Chris Peterson, one of the founding fathers of positive psychology, has written a wonderfully engaging and deeply stimulating introduction to this swiftly growing field. Intellectual history is intertowen with data, research findings with backstage gossip, to produce a delightful classic”
Guess who has written that?
Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi!
It’s not a coincidence.
September 10th, 2009 at 9:08 pm
Hi. This first comment is to Ana. So, as it happens, my book is actually at attempt to show the connections between Aristotle’s conception of human flourishing, positive psychology, and eudaimonia. I do have a section in the book on positive psychology. Self Determination Theory is considered to be a “subset” or branch of positive psychology.
Christopher Peterson has been a guest speaker, under my invitation, twice of the Ethics Center that I direct. He teaches at UM which is about a two hour drive from my university. He is wonderful human being and teacher. Yes, his Primer on Positive Psychology is wonderful. Csikszentmihalyi, in conversation with Seligman, was partly responsible for the ‘movement’ — positive psychology — with which Seligman is credited. But Csikszentmihalyi’s work is absolutely foundational to it. Seligman and Peterson have written numerous articles with each other before the “launch” of positive psychology — much of it on the concept of learned helplessness.
Also, Ana, check out an emerging movement called “Virtue Jurisprudence” that, in my view, begins to capture your intuitions about law and eudaimonia. Note — the original conception of law — as envisaged by Aristotle — was to promote eudaimonia. I have a brief chapter in my book on the connection between law and eudaimonia and argue for a conception of eudaimonia and its corresponding virtues– consistent with liberalism — that, in my view, the law should be concerned with cultivating.
ok enough. I will post my comments on the articles soon which will, I suspect, allude to these ideas again.
September 10th, 2009 at 9:11 pm
Kevin — off the top of my head I cannot think of any references for which you are seeking. However, I will check some things and get back to you. Csikszentmihlayi’s work is focused on intrinsic motivation — engaging in activity for its own sake — and his view is that activities that provide ‘optimal challenge’ are the most pleasurable, optimal experiences. Anyway more on that at another time. If I find anything on his work and pharmaceuticals I will let you know.