Promoting Human Development through Virtue: A Philosophical and Psychological Exploration of the Practical Wisdom Blueprint Function

Abstract

The virtue of phronesis or practical wisdom is at the core of some cutting-edge interdisciplinary approaches to the scientific study of virtue. According to the Aristotelian phronesis model (APM), its most complex – and admittedly controversial – component is the “blueprint,” understood as the individual’s conception of the kind of things that matter for a flourishing life. This article reviews how APM’s developers currently operationalize the blueprint using moral identity measures. Controversies in conceptualizing the blueprint are outlined and limitations of moral identity measures are discussed. Alternative approaches, including goal orientation constructs and qualitative techniques, are suggested to better capture the blueprint’s conceptual complexity in empirical research. The article finds that the blueprint encompasses more than what is reflected in moral identity measures. The goals across life spheres that interweave in a flourishing life seem to be missing. This work aimed to enhance interdisciplinary research on individuals’ conceptualizations of a flourishing life across cultures.