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J.R. Miller's avatar

If flourishing is just living out my strength to find my greatest satisfaction, what role do virtues such as self-sacrifice play if any? How does your definition connect community to flourishing?

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Dr Victor Counted's avatar

Good point, Joey! Flourishing based on capabilities includes values like self-sacrifice, especially if valued by the community. Flourishing is about both individual and collective well-being, which makes our social environment and relationships central to this pursuit.

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J.R. Miller's avatar

And what if a community, or individual, does not value self-sacrifice but greed? If they believe flourishing is in their human capacity to plunder from the weak, what then? If we desire to see people flourish, the definition must be grounded something that transcends our limited capacities and our community values. I'd suggest the definition of flourishing must ground our ideals the nature of God which can be achieved through his capacities offered to us through the grace of Christ Jesus. If true, how then will this shape the definition we advance?

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