The Economics of Flourishing: A Pragmatic Approach to the Crisis of the American Middle- Class Open Access

Abstract

In this thesis, I argue that the American middle-classes’ ability to flourish is being actively hindered by contemporary economic conditions with resulting socioeconomic, political, and relational consequences. Section I of my thesis sheds light on I) why we should care about the concept of human flourishing, II) the historical relationship between philosophy and human flourishing, and III) contemporary models of human flourishing used in the field of positive psychology. I assess the strengths and weakness of dominant models of flourishing, then offer the definition of flourishing I find most useful for this thesis: Isabel V. Sawhill’s five core elements of a good-quality life. Section II of my thesis explores the relationship between capitalism, democracy, and flourishing in contemporary American middle-class life. I examine whether the American middle-class experiences each of Sawhill’s five elements, ultimately concluding that this demographic is lacking in each. Section III of my thesis is devoted to exploring one potential solution that seeks to address the polarization, inequality, and lack of opportunity for the American-middle class: expanding publicly-funded media platforms.

Table of Contents

Section I: Human Flourishing..............................................................................1

Introduction: why flourishing matters.......................................................2

Positive Psychology & Dominant Accounts of Human Flourishing.....................3 

Confusion, Communication & Conceptual Clarity in Positive Psychology.............6

Positive Psychology & Relational Insensitivity about Human Flourishing............10

Pragmatism About Flourishing: toward conceptual clarity & pluralism................15

Section II: Democracy, Capitalism, & The Economics of Flourishing in America..................20 

Defining the American Middle-Class: who are they?..................................................21 

Capitalism & Democracy in Contemporary American Life................................26

Capitalism, Democracy, & Sawhill’s 5 Elements of a Good-Quality Life..............38

Section III: What Now?...............................................................................................47 

Proposal Introduction: Expanding Publicly Funded Media Platforms...................48

Defining “Public” Media Platforms...........................................................52 

Implications & Benefits of Public Media Platform Expansion.............................54

Identifying Agent(s) of Change...............................................................59

How Public Media Platforms Champion Flourishing for America’s Middle-Class....64

About this Honors Thesis

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School	Emory College
Department	Philosophy
Degree	B.A.
Submission	Honors Thesis
Language	English
Research Field	Philosophy Economics, General Psychology, Social
Keyword	philosophy
Committee Chair / Thesis Advisor	John J. Stuhr, Emory University
Committee Members	Sonal Nalkur, Emory University James O. Pawelski, University of Pennsylvania Jessica T. Wahman, Emory University

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