Enea Lombardi

Selecting Virtues: Philia and Relational Flourishing

Introduction

Selecting virtues: philia and relational flourishing . Unveils circularity in Hursthouse's Eudaimonist Virtue Ethics, stemming from individualistic flourishing. Proposes relational eudaimonia, using philia to establish a linear framework for virtue selection.

Abstract

This paper has a threefold aim. First, it seeks to unveil the circularity in Hursthouse’s account of Eudaimonist Virtue Ethics (EVE). To this end, I show that by framing eudaimonia as acting virtuously and virtues as stable dispositions of character needed to flourish, Hursthouse ultimately commits to a circular movement, where each concept is defined in terms of the other. In particular, virtues are not only seen as conducive to flourishing but also normatively constitutive of eudaimonia. I then demonstrate this circularity in action by discussing Rosalind McDougall’s application of EVE to reproductive ethics, particularly with respect to parents selecting for a deaf child. Second, I argue that this circularity stems from an individualistic conception of flourishing, which is rooted in a phenomenological interpretation of zoon politikon, leaving no intermediate space between means (i.e., virtues) and the end (i.e., eudaimonia). Third, I propose a relational conception of eudaimonia, defining it as acting virtuously with and for others. I further contend that the normative structure of philia can lead to a linear relationship between virtues and flourishing, providing an intermediate selection criterion for virtues.

Review

This paper presents an ambitious and thought-provoking analysis of a foundational issue within Eudaimonist Virtue Ethics (EVE). The author embarks on a three-fold journey, beginning with a critical examination of Rosalind Hursthouse's influential account, positing that it suffers from a circularity where eudaimonia and virtues are mutually defined. This theoretical critique is then effectively concretized through an application to the complex ethical domain of reproductive choices, specifically in the context of parents selecting for a deaf child. The subsequent aim is to trace the root of this circularity to an individualistic conception of flourishing, drawing a connection to a specific interpretation of *zoon politikon*. Ultimately, the paper proposes a novel relational conception of eudaimonia, framing it as "acting virtuously with and for others," and introduces *philia* as a normative structure capable of establishing a linear, rather than circular, relationship between virtues and flourishing. The central argument regarding the circularity in Hursthouse’s EVE, if convincingly demonstrated, represents a significant challenge to a prominent theory and promises to ignite crucial debate. The application of this critique to the ethically charged realm of reproductive decisions, as exemplified by the choice to select for a deaf child, provides a powerful illustration of the theoretical problem's practical implications. The diagnosis attributing this circularity to an individualistic understanding of flourishing, and its connection to *zoon politikon*, is an insightful conceptual move that delves into the philosophical underpinnings of the issue. The proposed solution—a relational conception of eudaimonia mediated by the normative structure of *philia*—is a creative and potentially transformative contribution, offering a fresh perspective on how virtues might lead to flourishing without falling into definitional recursion. The success of this proposed linearity, however, will critically depend on the clarity and robustness with which *philia* is articulated as an intermediate selection criterion. Overall, this paper outlines a highly compelling argument that promises to make a substantial contribution to contemporary virtue ethics. Its ability to identify a deep-seated theoretical problem, diagnose its philosophical origins, and propose an innovative relational solution, particularly one that integrates the concept of *philia*, indicates a sophisticated engagement with the subject matter. Scholars interested in the theoretical foundations of virtue ethics, the role of relationships in flourishing, and the practical applications of EVE in bioethics will find this paper to be particularly relevant and stimulating. It offers a fresh framework for understanding the connection between virtues and eudaimonia, pushing the boundaries of individualistic ethical paradigms towards a more interpersonally grounded conception of the good life.

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