31. 12. 2024

This episode of The IR thinker explores how eudaimonism, rooted in ancient Greek philosophy, can illuminate contemporary ethical and political dilemmas, in conversation with Professor Mark LeBar. The discussion considers how eudaimonism reframes what is good for human beings today, its relationship to rule based moral theories, and the distinction between rules and norms in guiding practical reason. It then turns to questions of virtue, universality and moral relativism, before examining how a eudaimonist framework might inform debates on leadership, responsibility, polarisation, artificial intelligence and global challenges such as environmental degradation and cultural diversity.

Mark LeBar

Mark LeBar is Professor of Philosophy at Florida State University and editor of the journal Social Theory and Practice. His research spans ethical theory, social and political philosophy and ancient philosophy, with a particular focus on virtue ethics and eudaimonism. He is the author of The Value of Living Well, which integrates ancient Greek ideas of flourishing with contemporary moral theory, and editor or co editor of volumes including Equality and Public Policy and Justice, which examine distributive questions and the virtue of justice from interdisciplinary perspectives.

Publications:

Justice

Eudaimonism

The Value of Living Well

Aristotelian constructivism

Kant on welfare

Content

00:00 - Introduction
01:35 - How Eudaimonism Redefines What Is Good for Us in Modern Ethics
06:29 - Eudaimonism Today: Has It Evolved into a Modern Equivalent?
10:44 - Practical Rationality vs Rule-Based Ethics: Insights from Eudaimonism
17:52 - Rules vs Norms: Understanding Their Ethical Distinction
22:21 - Virtue Ethics vs Moral Relativism: Using Ancient Ideas to Argue Universality
28:12 - Eudaimonism and Modern Moral Theories: A Cohesive View of Facts and Reasons
33:54 - Balancing Individual Flourishing with Social Responsibility Through Eudaimonism
41:00 - Moral Autonomy and Social Obligations: Finding Harmony Through Virtue
45:30 - Eudaimonism and Emerging Technologies: Addressing AI’s Ethical Challenges
51:08 - Bridging Polarisation: Virtue Eudaimonism in Political and Ethical Conflicts
56:00 - Global Environmental Issues: Eudaimonism and Collective Responsibility
58:06 - Cultural Diversity and Globalisation: Evolving Eudaimonism for Modern Challenges
01:00:50 - Philosophy Meets International Relations: Interdisciplinary Opportunities