Owen Flanagan - Human Flourishing/Eudaimonics

Owen Flanagan

Human Flourishing/Eudaimonics

DATE:	October 4, 2008
SPEAKERS:	Owen Flanagan
TOPICS:	Enlightenment, Eudaimonics, Human Flourishing, Neuroexistentialism, Religion

Owen Flanagan is James B. Duke Professor of Philosophy at Duke University. He also holds appointments in Psychology and Neurobiology and is a Faculty Fellow in Cognitive Neuroscience. In 1998, he was recipient of the Romanell National Phi Beta Kappa award, given annually to one American philosopher for distinguished contributions to philosophy and the public understanding of philosophy. He has written several books; the most recent is The Really Hard Problem: Meaning in a Material World.

I'm reading the newest book right now - interesting, but it seeks to reduce subjectivity to the physical in ways I do not accept. Consciousness is a function of the brain/body inhabiting time and space within a socio-cultural context - all of these elements together construct a consciousness within the individual. Simply arguing between the humanistic (great chain of being) and the scientific (neurons and neurochemicals) does nothing to address the real issues.

Filed in: Psychology, Buddhism, consciousness, mind, brain, Owen Flanagan, Human Flourishing, Enlightenment, Eudaimonics, Human Flourishing, Neuroexistentialism, Religion, The Really Hard Problem, Meaning in a Material World, philosophy