CPS 3600 - Positive Psychology: Not Just Happiness, but Pursuit of a Meaningful Life

Who decides the definition of a life worth living in our modern society? What narratives and traditions of a life worth living have been silenced and deconstructed? What cultural traditions have shaped my views of a fulfilling life? What does it mean to live a life well lived? The purpose of this course is two-fold: (1) to take a social justice and multicultural perspective on the life worth living, and (2) to critically explore sociocultural and historical factors influencing personal views of a fulfilling life. We will explore these questions through engagement with global traditions that each bring a unique voice into the conversation about the good life, including Buddhist, Confucian, Hindi, Islamic, Christian, North American Indigenous traditions, and African spiritual beliefs. This course will place a particular emphasis on non-Western traditions of thought with the goal to amplify historically marginalized discourses. The course will include didactic components but will primarily consist of discussion-based components to create a community of learning among fellow colleagues. This course is meant to encourage self-insight and critical thinking of public discourse on what is considered a good life. Students will be evaluated through a pre-semester and post-semester paper outlining their personal journey through thinking about a life worth living.