Philosophy 302 - Well-Being and Well-Lived Lives

We all want to live good lives, but what does it mean for our lives to go well? Is it a matter of being admired and loved by other human beings, making a lot of money, accomplishing great deeds, or developing our potential? Or is it a matter of experiencing as much pleasure as possible, or getting what we want, whatever we might want? Or should we do something that is truly important (is there such a thing?), even if we are not attracted to, nor do we take any pleasure in, doing that thing? Or, are all of these goals worthless? In this course we will examine five traditions of philosophical reflections about these questions--Ancient Greek Philosophy, Modern Liberalism (including Existentialism), Contemporary Analytic Philosophy, Confucianism, and Buddhism--and then attempt to determine for ourselves how we ought best to approach our own lives if we want to live them well. 

Requisite: One course in Philosophy. Limited to 20 students. Fall Semester. Professor Gentzler. (V)

How to handle overenrollment: Priority to majors, then on the basis of seniority.

Students who enroll in this course will likely encounter and be expected to engage in the following intellectual skills, modes of learning, and assessment: Emphasis on written work, readings, independent research, oral presentations, and group work.