The Good Life

‍What does it look like for a human life to go well? What leads to human flourishing or “happiness” or “success”? What is freedom? Love? Justice? What is the basis for ethics? What is our relationship to the environment and natural world? What is the significance of death? How do our beliefs (or lack thereof) about God or the gods shape our answers to life's big questions? Do they really matter? We examine how philosophical or religious traditions around the globehave answered these questions, beginning with their founders. Traditions (and founders/key figures) covered include Confucianism (Confucius); Islam (Muhammad); Christianity (Jesus); Stoicism (Socrates), Judaism (Moses), and Buddhism (the Buddha).

This course is taught by a team of leading scholars in these traditions, including instructors in classical studies, religious studies, divinity, and philosophy. As part of the Transformative Ideas Program for Sophomores, students will have opportunities to hear from guest speakers, enjoy meals with these guests and their professors, and participate in select co curricular activities with students from other classes within the program. Enrollment in this course is limited toSophomores.