Self-Realization

• Rashdall notes that ‘self-realization’ does not mean making the self real, as the self is already real; it generally means making the self perfect.

• Plausibility of evolutionary ethics comes from belief that evolution produces more perfect kinds (dogs, horses, plants), but human-directed breeding achieves more than nature.

• Conscious choice and deliberate pursuit of ends is the way to human perfection, rather than leaving it to natural evolution.

• Evolutionary perfection focuses on the perfection of the kind or race, where individuals matter only for producing a better kind; eugenics is central.

• Moral perfection focuses on the perfection of the individual self, where each individual counts.

• Aristotle termed the end of moral life eudaimonia, roughly corresponding to happiness or prosperity, but with a special technical sense.

• Eudaimonia = exercise of the soul (realization of capacities) in accordance with excellence (virtue); if multiple virtues exist, in accordance with the best and most complete excellence.

• The term translated as exercise/realization is related to our word energy, implying active working.

• Perfection theories raise the question of which capacities are most worth developing.

• Some specialized capacities (acrobatics, chess, crossword-solving) may give personal satisfaction but contribute little to moral goodness.

• Not all capacities have equal moral value; developing sympathy is morally right, developing eating capacity is not.

• All-round development of capacities is attractive; Bradley supported widening knowledge and practice.

• Individuals may benefit from developing physical, intellectual, and spiritual capacities.

• Specialization is sometimes necessary for society (e.g., medical or scientific research) even if it limits other capacities.

• Goodness does not require neglecting lower capacities; development of basic abilities (e.g., digestion) is important for social and intellectual pursuits.

• Deliberate renunciation of certain capacities can be part of the good life; saints abandoned family, art, or knowledge for social or religious purposes.

• A valid theory of self-realization must specify which human capacities to develop and to what degree.