My research focuses on the intersection of Aristotelian virtue ethics and existentialism. One of the central aims is to promote authenticity as the ultimate telos more suited the present day than Aristotle's eudaimonia. This alternative guiding principle requires a different set of virtues in order for us to achieve our end goal. These I tentatively have called the 'existential virtues' and include aspects of the so-called existential attitude, such as uncertainty, boredom and anxiety.
A primary goal of the project is to create an expanded definition of flourishing that accounts for the individuals' responsibility for establishing a sense of subjective meaning - something which Aristotle's account lacks. In essence, this research projects advocates how we might attempt to flourish despite living in a world that we deem to be inherently meaningless. It also reproaches the current shallow discourse surrounding mental health which in the mainstream often doesn't take account of the question of personal meaning. I advocate attempting to take a personal responsibility for this, using Irvin Yalom's four 'ultimate concerns' as a starting point.
Supervisors
Professor Michael Hauskeller and Dr Jan Jobling
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