Okay, but Vervaeke's view of Neoplatonism is somewhat cynical and pragmatic, which is why he dodges the metaphysical question of life's meaning (as I show elsewhere). If the goal is to flourish and to be happy, lots of dishonourable means will be justified, such as entering the happiness machine and ducking reality altogether. How about a lobotomy? And why should humans flourish? How do we flourish without destroying all other life on the planet and thus ourselves? What's the humanist's sustainable conception of flourishing or happiness?

I'm fine with wrestling with ideals, and with thinking of religious myths as useful fictions. There's a concept I'm looking into, called "metamodernism" which might be relevant here.