About Us
Flourishing is a humanist life-stance association based on worldviews grounded in realism concerning ethics and knowledge, and the association will place emphasis on education and discussion of ethical issues in society. The association was founded on 23 March 2025 at the National House (Safnahúsið), Reykjavík. Its statutes are based on a combination of deliberative democracy and substantive voting democracy.
The name Flourishing refers to the developmental journey of the human being and to the process of the ethical refinement of society toward flourishing.
Flourishing is established as a forum for discussion and learning about the values that matter greatly to families in society and that influence our lives. Around these values we shape our life-views and seek to live in accordance with them. We believe that sound life-views are of great importance for a good life. We wish to unite around them and strengthen our character so that we may navigate successfully through the turbulent seas that life can present. We seek to help one another flourish in life and achieve our goals.
To this end, we consider it important to reflect upon our thoughts and to engage in dialogue about them; this constitutes a philosophical way of life. See further on the page Foundation.
We offer ceremonial services in accordance with this life-stance. See the page on ceremonial services.
Board of Flourishing
(updated 17 September 2025. Helga Jóhanna assumed a seat on the main board)
Executive Board
Svanur Sigurbjörnsson, Chair
Sævar Ari Finnbogason, Vice-Chair
Unnur Hjaltadóttir, Representative
Júlía Linda Ómarsdóttir, Treasurer
Helga Jóhanna Úlfarsdóttir
Alternate Member
Jóhann Björnsson
The name of the association is derived from a concept in an ethical theory known as eudaimonism or the ethics of flourishing. The theory originates in Aristotle’s virtue ethics and also falls under so-called teleological ethics. According to this view, each person should aim to cultivate their moral judgment (moral conscience) and a morally responsible disposition (such as goodwill, courage, fairness, and so forth) throughout life.
A person should strive to achieve worthwhile goals and contribute to the good of all, not only to their own benefit. The development and refinement of a person’s moral character is therefore a lifelong aim, and through this one attains flourishing (eudaimonia in Ancient Greek), which is a particular form of happiness. One may say that the goal is to flourish in life while improving society at the same time, since it is difficult to flourish under poor conditions. This flourishing is therefore prominently reflected in the symbols of the association.
You, dear reader, may become a member of Flourishing if you share these life-stances with the association and wish, through your membership, to support its aims and activities. See the registration page.
A more detailed description of the association’s definition, purpose, and goals can be found on the page Foundations of the Ideas of Flourishing.
See the registration page.
