Philosophy & Science of Happiness & the Good Life

Philosophers through the ages have asked about the nature of happiness and its contribution to ?the good life.? It?s something we all want, but what is it? And why do we all want it so much? Are some people naturally happier than others? What makes us happy and why? This course will examine happiness from a number of different perspectives. We will look at what philosophers have said about the nature and importance of happiness in our lives, how conceptions of happiness/the good life have changed over time, and also examine the scientific literature on well-being, positive affect and our ability to regulate our affective states. Students will learn to read and critically analyze primary research articles in a number of different fields, including philosophy, and are expected to write a series of short papers and complete a final research project. This is a course in the Culture, Brain & Development Program. PRJ, REA, WRI