Human Nature as a Universal Compass: A Virtue Ethics Approach to Diversity and Inclusion

This article advances a virtue-ethical foundation for the respectful and meaningful management of diversity and inclusion, grounded in the notion of human nature. Human beings share a common form of life that provides an objective and universal account of what is good for us to flourish. Yet human nature is also intrinsically open to diversity—an essential feature of our humanness, both a capability and a limitation. Responding effectively to the challenges of diversity requires cultivating three virtues: discernment (to evaluate beliefs and practices in light of human goodness), hospitality (to welcome others in and beyond their differences), and benevolence (to promote mutual flourishing). These virtues are especially practiced through dialogue and cooperative inquiry. Finally, human nature serves as a compass for navigating the tensions inherent in diversity—between separation, disparity, and variety—in ways that make the human experience of diversity an opportunity for individual and collective flourishing.