Why Should We Want to Drive the Economy? And What is "Success" Anyway? A Philosopher's Perspective.

Abstract

Every American, every person wants to be “a success”. When we speak of “success” nowadays, we usually have in mind financial success, a degree of personal wealth. Yet we would all agree that we want more from life than having achieved a relatively high income tax bracket. The ancient Greek philosophers urged that all of us, as we go through our lives making countless choices, are ultimately aiming to thrive, to live well, to have a truly good life. So, it is important to think carefully about what it is for a human being to thrive, to flourish. We want, in this rich sense, to do well in life, and we also want to avoid poverty, to enjoy at least a decent level of financial prosperity. But how do the two relate? At this conference, we’re examining the ways our great SUNY system can contribute to the economic success of New York State, leading to better quality of life for New Yorkers. I will argue that economic success is indeed an important goal, and that the great Greek philosopher Aristotle can help us to see how it fits into a whole life well lived.