What is Human Flourishing?
By: Bryce Butler
In our recent story, we introduced Maurice Camara, whose journey from financial uncertainty to independence illustrates the transformative potential of social trust in achieving financial freedom. Born in Mali and later relocating to the United States, Maurice faced significant financial challenges while pursuing a career in tech. Traditional financial institutions–relying heavily on rigid credit histories–were not an option for him.
Enter SoLo Funds, a peer-to-peer lending platform that prioritizes borrower behavior over conventional credit scores. Maurice embraced this innovative system, consistently repaying 96 loans on time and building a reputation of trustworthiness. His success on the platform increased his borrowing capacity, ultimately enabling him to secure a tech job and start his own business. Today, Maurice has transitioned from borrower to lender, contributing to a community that fosters financial inclusion through social trust.
Maurice’s story highlights how platforms that prioritize equity and trust can empower individuals to overcome financial barriers, pursue personal growth, and contribute meaningfully to their communities. But what does this have to do with human flourishing?
Defining Human Flourishing
At Access Ventures, we believe that human flourishing is about living a life of purpose, dignity, and connection—a state where individuals and communities thrive together. This vision is deeply rooted in the insights of philosophers, thinkers, and change-makers throughout history.
St. Augustine, the influential theologian, described flourishing as beatitudo—a profound happiness achieved by aligning one’s life with higher moral purposes such as love, justice, and community. For Augustine, flourishing extended beyond personal success to encompass the harmonious well-being of all.
Donella Meadows, a renowned systems thinker, emphasized that flourishing depends on balanced, adaptable systems. Feedback loops, which describe how different parts of a system influence one another, can either amplify changes (positive feedback) or stabilize the system (negative feedback). Her concepts show how interconnected actions ripple through social, environmental, and economic ecosystems (ie communities), shaping well-being. Meadows’ idea of leverage points highlights that small, strategic changes—like equitable policies or community initiatives—can drive transformative impact, underscoring our deep interdependence and the need for systems that support mutual thriving.
John Muir, the celebrated naturalist, reinforced the interdependence of human flourishing and the environment. His observation that “when we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the universe” underscores the connection between individuals, communities, and nature.
René Girard, a pioneer of social science theory, explored how mimetic rivalry—competition fueled by the imitation of others—disrupts harmony and fosters conflict. Girard argued for inclusivity and empathy, instead of contention and escalation, as essential tools for reducing conflict and building collaborative, thriving societies.
Together, these perspectives show that flourishing is not just an individual endeavor—it is deeply connected to our social structures, relationships, and equitable opportunities.
At Access Ventures, we emphasize three key pillars of flourishing: access to resources, agency to make meaningful choices, and community to foster belonging. These principles form the foundation of our vision for a society that is dynamic, resilient, and equitable.
Dynamic Societies: Encourage innovation and adaptability while upholding human dignity and environmental sustainability.
Resilient Systems: Build safety nets and support structures to help communities recover from challenges and contribute meaningfully.
Equitable Access: Remove barriers and ensure fair opportunities so everyone can participate and succeed.
A Call to Foster Flourishing
Human flourishing is both a moral imperative and a shared social goal. It requires breaking down divisions, fostering equitable systems, and building communities that thrive on connection, inclusion, and resilience. As Donella Meadows’ systems theory, John Muir’s ecological insights, and René Girard’s critique of rivalry demonstrate, flourishing is achieved when balance and collaboration are prioritized.
Organizations like Access Ventures are bringing this vision to life by creating environments where flourishing isn’t just an ideal—it’s an actionable reality. Maurice Camara’s journey exemplifies what is possible when social trust and equitable systems empower individuals to thrive. Together, we can build a world where everyone has the opportunity to flourish.