If our lives are to go well, then we will need embodied visions of radiant ways of being. This claim flies in the face of two abiding tendencies in the modern world: pluralism and monism. Pluralism holds that we are free to live as we see fit provided we don’t harm anyone. The trouble with this picture is that it can lead on to nihilism: to the claim that we have no idea how to live.

Monism, by contrast, insists that there is only one suitable vision of a well-led life. The problem is that this line of thought is that it seems unduly straitjacketing, restricting, a trap. Neither “any way: take your pick” nor “one way: here it is” can possibly satisfy our fundamental desire to lead radiant lives, our yearning to know that our lives are going or have gone well.

We do not want to waste our lives. We want to care about the shape of our lives. We want to find another way.

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A philosopher is an exemplar of radiance. Insofar as this is the case and insofar as he is no special or unique being, he shows us that it is possible for us to live radiantly as well. The philosopher has surrounded himself with philosophical friends, kindred spirits all; he is at home in the world; he is humble, attentive to the natural world, attuned to the needs of his friends and lovers; he loves the present alone, feels wonder in the face of mystery, is enveloped by the joy of existing. For him, each day is a blessing and each night a time of gratitude. He lives with the seasons, never takes life for granted, is involved in ongoing self-transformation, inquires further about his existence.

Radiance is an open concept: rather like an invitation to inquire in a certain direction, not unlike greeting. Radiance, accordingly,

1. is accommodating of the plenitude of lived experience, of many ways of being radiant, issuing no Thou Shalts or Thou Shalt Not’s;

2. is guiding, life-directing, keen on pointing a way forward;

3. rules out any form of life that is trivial, evil, mean-spirited, pleasure-seeking, acquisitive, etc.;

4. actualizes wholeness within, without, throughout;

5. marries the good with the beautiful (in Greek: kalon): a radiant life, being good, is also an expression of beauty;

6. is a signpost pointing us toward ‘other radiant beings,’ i.e., to our fellows who are  also living radiantly.

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And what would be some poetic descriptions of radiant visions of a flourishing life?

Imagine a trellis and then a vine. The trellis assists the vine. The vine, guided thence, twines toward the liquid sky, opening its fingers, giving its fruit to all. All of this is radiance.

Imagine, if you will, living life completely: having what you need and loving what you should. No more, no less, no other.