Centered on flourishing, happiness, and living well, this lecture series examines the relationship between public welfare, politics, economics, and the ultimate goal of human life. In these discussions, Hadi Samadi demonstrates why security, wealth, and economic growth should be instruments in the service of human well-being, not the ultimate goals of society and the state.
In this four-session series, Hadi Samadi addresses one of the fundamental questions of practical philosophy and public policy: What is the ultimate goal of individual life and social order? Should governments merely pursue security, economic growth, and increased wealth, or do these goals only gain meaning when they serve the welfare, happiness, flourishing, and living well of human beings?
The discussion begins from the observation that in the last two decades, climate crises, economic crises, and the experience of the COVID pandemic have once again brought to the fore the question of governmental responsibility and the criteria for successful policies. If we consider security, wealth, and economic growth valuable, it is because we believe they make human lives better, healthier, and happier. These goals, therefore, have more instrumental value than intrinsic value.
In these lectures, drawing on the Aristotelian tradition of thought on eudaimonia and flourishing, Hadi Samadi explains how concepts such as happiness, well-being, and human flourishing can serve as a basis for rethinking economics, politics, and legislation. From this perspective, the main issue is not merely the increase of quantitative indicators like GDP; rather, we must ask to what extent these indicators contribute to a better life, the growth of capabilities, and the flourishing of human talents.
The significance of this series lies in its linking of philosophy, ethics, economics, and public policy. These lectures invite the audience to step back from the common perception of economic growth as an ultimate goal and to reflect on the criteria by which a good society, a good government, and a good life should be measured.
