The value of a flourishing life

A flourishing life is a commonly invoked philosophical concept which dates at least as far back as Aristotle (384–322 BCE) (who used the term ‘eudaimonia’). It refers to the best kind of life a being can live. A flourishing life for a human involves the highest wellbeing possible and the optimum range of experiences, opportunities and functioning. Precisely what constitutes a ‘flourishing’ life is a matter of debate. However, most people will agree that, for instance, autonomy, freedom from physical pain, and psychological health are all elements of a flourishing life, and that slavery, physical suffering, and serious psychological conditions such as depression or anxiety are not.