Oneness
At the core of this work lie the oneness hypothesis, which is not a single theory but a family of views found in different forms in a wide variety of disciplines, and its implications for theories of virtue and human happiness. The oneness hypothesis concerns the nature of the world, but it entails a view about the nature of the self and its relationship to other people, creatures, and things. Its core assertion is that we are inextricably intertwined with other people, creatures, and things. The connections the oneness hypothesis advocates are specifically those that conduce to the health, benefit, and improvement of both individuals and the larger wholes of which they are parts. The relational view of the self at the heart of the oneness hypothesis offers an alternative to more individualistic accounts. This new view of the self is a more expansive conception of the self, a self that is less self-centered and instead is seen as intimately connected with other people, creatures, and things. A central claim of this work is that a proper understanding of the underlying oneness of the world will lead one to a greater awareness and appreciation of innate inclinations and resources that when fully developed generate a distinctive set of virtues. A life guided by such virtues enables one to locate oneself within grand natural and social orders that facilitate greater spontaneity, security, and metaphysical comfort, resulting in a special, resilient, and enduring form of happiness.