“Is This Life?”

“Is this life?” is a permanently open question because experience and imagination might always disclose to us different prospects for fulfillment. The idea of a science-based “eudaimonics” (Flanagan, Harris) that would end disagreements about human flourishing by establishing psychological facts is blind to the role of imagining in aspirational life. Admitting that the game of life is never entirely defined, certain attitudes are always called for, including optimism with respect to what can be reached and humility with respect to the demands of righting. These high attitudes can be conceived as good character dispositions or virtues, but they also should be conceived as manifestations of our vitality—our not being listless and callous. Optimism powers our imagining and humility sobers our sensing of need.