Introduction

This chapter establishes flourishing as an ethical issue. The chapter explores unequal human flourishing, as well as human flourishing that comes at the cost of ecosystem health, both of which occur in a case study of the oil fields of the Niger Delta. The history of the concept of flourishing follows, from its origin as one translation of Aristotle’s central concept, eudaimonea—the goal of all human lives, the necessary effect of a life of virtue—to its expansion into religious belief. The chapter then introduces the book by reference to the fields of comparative religious ethics and religious environmental ethics. Finally, the chapter introduces the method and contents of the volume.

That All May Flourish

Can humans flourish without destroying the earth? In this book, experts on many of the world’s major and minor religious traditions address the question of human and earth flourishing. Each chapter involves specific religious ideas and specific environmental harms. Chapters were paired and the authors have created dialogues to exemplify a dialogical method of comparative religious ethics. Taken as a whole, the chapters reveal that the question of flourishing is deceptively simple. Most would agree that humans should flourish without destroying the earth. But not all humans have equal opportunities to flourish. Additionally, on a basic physical level any human flourishing must, of necessity, cause some harm. These considerations of the price and distribution of flourishing raise unique ontological questions about the status of humans and nature. This book represents a step toward reconciliation: that people and their ecosystems may live in peace, that people from different religious worldviews may engage in productive dialogue; in short, that all may flourish.