This paper aims to offer conceptual clarification on the use of the concept of human flourishing with regard to children. We will argue that the concept can meaningfully be applied to parts of human lives, specifically one's childhood, and discuss when we can meaningfully speak of a flourishing child. Viewing children's lives in terms of whether they are flourishing may be able to help us understand and articulate in which ways a child's life may go better or worse. This is relevant, firstly, to the overall evaluation of people's lives, and secondly, because a flourishing childhood could be instrumentally necessary for adult flourishing. But, most importantly, childhood is a period of life that is good in itself irrespective of its contribution to adult flourishing, that is, being able to be a child has intrinsic goodness. Children have particular characteristics that can optimally function in childhood. While these contribute to the overall evaluation of a flourishing life, they are not regarded as valuable only because of this contribution.

中文翻译：

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蓬勃发展的孩子

本文旨在就人类繁荣概念在儿童方面的使用提供概念上的澄清。我们将争辩说，这个概念可以有意义地应用于人类生活的某些部分，特别是一个人的童年，并讨论什么时候我们可以有意义地谈论一个蓬勃发展的孩子。从孩子们是否正在蓬勃发展的角度来看待他们的生活可能有助于我们理解和阐明孩子的生活在哪些方面可能会变得更好或更糟。首先，这与对人们生活的整体评估有关，其次，因为繁荣的童年对于成年人的繁荣可能是必不可少的。但是，最重要的是，童年是一个本身就很好的生命时期，无论它对成人繁荣的贡献如何，也就是说，能够成为一个孩子具有内在的善良。儿童具有可以在童年时期发挥最佳功能的特殊特征。虽然这些有助于对繁荣生活的整体评价，但它们并不仅仅因为这种贡献而被视为有价值。