A Life Worth Living (The University of Hong Kong)

What does it mean to live a worthy life? This is one of the most fundamental questions of human existence and this course addresses the relevant issues through an engagement with various philosophical and religious traditions, such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, Christianity, Islam and Secular Humanism.

We shall discuss how the teachings of important historical figures from these traditions have influenced the choices of people over the centuries, and how they have been contextualized and adopted in contemporary society.

We shall examine how these figures regard the place of bodily pleasures, intellectual pursuits, power, status, possessions, accomplishments, virtues, relationship with other human beings and the relationship (or not) with the transcendent in their vision of a good life. We will explore the resources they offer for dealing with stress, temptations, disappointments and failures, social oppression, the loss of possessions and of loved ones, and with one’s own death.

The course will help students connect across different disciplines and cultures, and develop the ability to examine controversial issues from multiple perspectives. Students will achieve these aims through interactive learning and high impact practices such as group debates and interviewing contemporary advocates of different worldviews concerning the question of “what makes a worthy life?”

Course Learning Outcomes

• Engage articulately in considered, logical discussion on a range of views, beliefs, and traditional texts from multiple perspectives about issues related to the meaning of life.
• Describe, analyze, and evaluate several of the world's major belief traditions in five areas: what it means for life to go well, for life to be led well, the reasons and motivations the tradition offers in its vision of a life worth living, resources each offers for achieving such a life, and what courses of action the traditions suggest individuals are to do when they fail to live such a life.
• Structure and articulate one’s own vision of an ‘examined life’ and ‘life worth living.’
• Independently apply relevant new advances in knowledge to their vision of a life worth living by means of analysis, critical evaluation, and personal reflection.

Assessment Tasks

• Tutorial participation and assignments/discussions will focus on the required readings (10% of grade)
• In-class discussion: Students are required to read the assigned readings before the lectures and submit two discussion questions based on the readings for each of the philosophical/religious traditions. Due Date: by 12pm the Monday before the lecture during which the tradition will be discussed. (10% of grade)
• Short writing assignments: Students will submit responses to five questions (200 word maximum total). (30% of grade) According to the tradition:
  • What does it mean for a person’s life to be led well? That is, what do we need to do in order to lead a worthy life? How does a worthy life relate to life’s circumstances or the desire for happiness?
  • What reasons and/or motivations does the tradition offer for a vision of a life worth living?
  • What resources does it offer for human beings to be able to have a life worth living?‍
  • To whom are we responsible for living our lives in a certain way?
  • What does the tradition suggest that people do when they fail to live such a life?
• Video Presentation: 3-5 minute video presentation reflecting on your vision of a Life Worth Living as it has developed during the class (see below for more detail). (20% of grade)
• Final Essay: 1500 word (maximum) essay outlining the student’s own personal vision of a life worth living, and plans for a practical project that would put this vision into action (30% of grade)