REL 2005 - Self-Help, Happiness, and a Good Life

FDR: Humanities (HU)
Credits: 3

An exploration of the meaning and experience of a good life and the pursuit of happiness in various social, cultural, and historical forms, with special attention paid to addressing the contemporary starting point of concerned individuals and societies. Course material is drawn from philosophy, psychology, sociology, economics, medicine, and religion. Students address questions like: Are philosophies, religions, and works of art or literature reducible to or interpretable as forms of self-help?; How has modern science and technology shaped the pursuit of happiness?; What is it like to live in a world in which we might feel a duty to be happy?