Art & Science of Happiness

Catalog description

What actually makes us happy? Scientific research shows most of us get this badly wrong. For instance, money is far less important, and embracing negative emotions far more important, than most people realize. When philosophy first got started, it focused on the single most practically important question anyone can ask: How can I live a good life? A recent boom in scientific research is now validating insights from traditions that take this approach of philosophy as a way of life, including ancient greek, eastern & continental schools of philosophy. Open to all students (no pre-requisites), this course combines intellectual inquiry with experiential approaches, blending philosophical insight, evidence-based interventions and cutting-edge science. For instance, students will learn about approaches to emotion regulation and stress resilience all the way from the ancient Stoics to recently published work in psychological science. This course won't make you happy. It will sometimes make you sad. It will expose you to tools that you can use to improve your physical and psychological well-being, and - most important of all - your sense of purpose in life. Counts as a Full-Semester Wellness/Non-movement course. Counts as a Moral & Ethical Reasoning course.