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

DeLacey, Sara (Spring 2022)

Permanent URL: https://etd.library.emory.edu/concern/etds/sb397955p?locale=pt-BR
Published

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

Rights statement
  • Permission granted by the author to include this thesis or dissertation in this repository. All rights reserved by the author. Please contact the author for information regarding the reproduction and use of this thesis or dissertation.
School
Department
Degree
Submission
Language
  • English
Research Field
Palavra-chave
Committee Chair / Thesis Advisor
Committee Members
Última modificação

Primary PDF

Supplemental Files