Phil 110 Intro to Philosophy Sec 3, 8, 10

Fulfills GE Requirement: Letters
Introduction to Philosophy: Well-Being and the Good Life
Sec. 3, 8, 10 Jacob D. Hogan

Anciently, philosophy was viewed as the path to happiness and well-being (eudaimonia). Though philosophy (as an academic discipline) has different aims today, happiness and well-being remain greatly desirable elements of well-lived lives.

In this course, we will examine what philosophy has to say about “the good life” and how to attain it. Some of the ideas about “the good life” we will study this semester are, without exaggeration, foundational to Western culture (e.g., ever heard or used the phrase “whatever doesn’t kill you makes you stronger”? But do you know who developed that idea in the first place?).

The following (non-exhaustive) questions will lead our search. What is the best life for a human being to live? Is “the good life” a happy life, or are there points of divergence between goodness and happiness? Does life have a meaning, and if so, how is that meaning sought / created / expressed / discovered? Do we need God for life to be meaningful? Can the “good life” look different for different people, or are any features of “the good life” universal? If so, what are they?
Additional sections of Phil 110 are also available.