To Flourish or Destruct: A Personalist Theory of Human Goods, Motivations, Failure, and Evil

In his book "What Is a Person?" Christian Smith argues that sociology has neglected the fundamental question of what it means to be a person. He explores the motivations intrinsic to this subjective experience and argues that our actions stem from a motivation to realize natural human goods, which can lead to varying gradations of evil. Smith's book is rooted in critical realism and informed by work in philosophy, psychology, and other fields.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 384 pages
Publication date: 06 February 2021
Publisher: The University of Chicago Press

In his groundbreaking 2010 book, "What Is a Person?" Christian Smith boldly challenged the field of sociology, asserting that it had for far too long overlooked a fundamental aspect of human existence: our subjective experience as individuals. Smith argued that prevailing social theories failed to adequately capture the depth and richness of our lived lives, encompassing the essence of our "souls" or "hearts." Building upon his previous work, "To Flourish or Destruct," Smith delved into the motivations underlying this profound subjective experience. He sought to answer the fundamental question: why do people act as they do? How can we explain the very essence of human social life and the intricate structures that shape it?

Smith's central contention was that our actions are driven by a profound motivation to attain what he termed "natural human goods." These goods, he believed, are inherently good for all human beings, rooted in our fundamental nature. He embarked on a captivating exploration of the ways in which we can and do fall short of realizing these ends, leading to varying degrees of evil. Smith's work is grounded in critical realism, drawing upon insights from philosophy, psychology, and various other fields. Through his ambitious book, he positioned the concept of personhood at the heart of our endeavors to understand how we can create flourishing human lives and societies.

In conclusion, Christian Smith's "What Is a Person?" is a seminal work that profoundly examines the nature of human existence and the pursuit of good human lives. Through his critical realist lens, Smith challenges prevailing social theories and offers a fresh perspective on the motivations that drive our actions. By exploring the concept of natural human goods and the ways in which we can realize them, he provides a valuable roadmap for shaping a more just and compassionate world. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in the study of sociology, philosophy, and human nature.

Weight: 530g
Dimension: 152 x 229 x 23 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780226759920