Freedom and Flourishing in Fraught Times

In the difficult times we are living in today, it can be hard to know how to maintain our balance and where to direct our efforts. As AAR President Leela Prasad has noted, “assaults on freedom and human rights are rampant, ruthless, and recurring.” This can make us wonder whether flourishing is even a relevant consideration any more. And yet some would argue that ideals can be especially important in less than ideal times. This interdisciplinary roundtable session invites delegates to join a panel of scholars from philosophy, history, religious studies, and theology to explore the nature of freedom and flourishing, examining how these ideals may be related to each other and discussing how they might help us find renewed hope and a clearer sense of purpose and direction as we journey together through fraught times.