Human Flourishing: Ethics in Work and Everyday Life

What is a good life and how can we live it? How can we find happiness, fulfillment, and flourishing? Throughout history, great thinkers have considered these questions under the umbrella of ethics. In this seminar, we will delve into the three foundational schools of thought—utilitarianism, deontology, and virtue ethics—and explore their relevance to everyday life, including work, friendships, and loving relationships. Come ready to ask tough questions, engage in meaningful discussions, and challenge yourself and others. Along the way, connect with like-minded individuals as we seek to answer one of life’s most essential questions: “What good shall I do this day?”

Utilitarianism: Happiness, Pleasure, and Morality

Do we do all that we do because we’re seeking happiness? Does this happiness consist in maximizing our pleasure? Should we distinguish qualitatively between “higher” and “lower” pleasures? If so, what justifies this distinction?

Reading: Mill, Utilitarianism, §§ 1-2. After Virtue, ch. 6, pp. 62–5.

Join the Morningside Institute for a conversation with Dan Addison exploring John Stuart Mill’s Utilitarianism, with some remarks on Alasdair MacIntyre’s critique of the view. This dinner series on ethics in work and everyday life will take place over dinner from 6 p.m. till 7:30 p.m. at IESE’s New York campus (165 W. 57th Street). A registration fee of $10 offsets the cost of dinner.